Bryan denies forcing Red Spot acquisition for port project
(CNS): Tourism Minister Kenneth Bryan has denied accusations that the real reason the Cayman Islands Government wants to buy a small piece of beachfront land in the George Town Harbour is to prepare for a cruise berthing project. The CIG is seeking a compulsory acquisition of Red Spot, which Bryan has said is to support the local fish market there, but people commenting on a number of local forums believe there is an ulterior motive.
The suggestion that the government is not being forthright about this unusual compulsory purchase from a private owner began on environmental forums. However, the owner of the land, Chris Johnson, also believes this might be the real motivation for the UPM’s efforts to force him to sell.
Speaking on Radio Cayman last week, Bryan, who revealed in parliament earlier this month that the CIG is pressing ahead with the compulsory acquisition of the site, also known as Dora’s Beach, said it was one hundred per cent not true that this had something to do with plans for a cruise dock. He said that the government was trying to buy the land to protect something inherently Caymanian and that it would be held in perpetuity for the fisherfolk and all Caymanians.
He admitted that the CIG is offering “way above market value” for the land, fueling suspicions that the strategically located site is destined to be part of a cruise berthing project.
Johnson has been unwavering in his refusal to sell the plot he has owned since 1973. While he accepts that fishermen have sold their catch in the area, mainly from the sea and the ironshore, for many years, he says the stalls were erected illegally in 2008 when concrete was laid directly on the beach land he owns. It is that stall he wants to see removed.
Johnson plans to finish work on the site, where he has constructed a side walk and glass rails, and now wants to complete the project by adding stairs, a wheelchair ramp and benches, but the government’s efforts to buy the land have stalled his planning application. He has said that if he is allowed to finished the project, he will put the land in a trust to create a beach park free from any commercial activity for the people of the Cayman Islands.
Johnson has said he is aware of government claims that it has made offers for his beach, but at this point he has not received any offer on the land in question because it appears the CIG has undertaken a valuation on the wrong piece of land.
Johnson told CNS this week that he received a letter offering a price for OPY6, which he said he does not own. The very small beach area located between the Sandbar and the Cabana restaurants is made up of several parcels, and he doesn’t own all of them, though he does own the parcels where the fishermen had erected the concrete base and stall.
It is not clear how the government made such a fundamental error, but the issue is set to go before the courts in the coming weeks when Johnson has been asked to argue why the government should not be able to take his land.
The suspicion that this attempted forced acquisition is connected to the port plans stems from questions about why the government is putting so much effort into buying this small beach front and why it is willing to pay so much.
This is compounded by the fact that Bryan previously stated that the fish market could move to the waterfront attraction further north that he was seeking to develop during this term. The CIG purchased this land for around $5.6 million in 2021 but it is currently sitting vacant.
However, there has been no further suggestion that the fish market could move to that location and for the last year Bryan has focused heavily on buying Johnson’s land. During his radio appearance, he insisted that this acquisition was part of preserving the local culture and heritage. He said the battle to secure the land was symbolic of the loss of Cayman’s heritage and he had hoped that the owner would have understood the intent.
He said the decision to go forward with the compulsory acquisition had not been made lightly. “But we have to start being prepared to stand for what we identify as Cayman, and this is definitely a symbol of that,” the minister added.
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Category: Politics
I have seen the offer made to Mr Johnson. It is a joke. No account has been taken of the cost of rebuilding the crumbling seawall or the construction of the sidewalk and railings.
It is also typical of the CIG ripping off its residents to increase their coffers. Most of the time they seize it for roads and due to costs local land owners do not have the money to fight these offers which do represent a fair value. This must stop.
Good luck Mr Johnson we are all behind you. We do not want a cruise ship landing at Red Spot Beach.
Okay, so I had the “joy” of being downtown at Red Spot Beach yesterday. There were several Cruise Ship tourists wading and swimming in the water when one of the “fishermen” walked down to the water’s edge with a bucket full of fish guts and other chemically treated Honduran caught fish and tossed it directly into the water. The Cruise Ship tourists were visibly taken aback. Let it be know. That NONE of the fish they sell here are caught by those “cleaning” and cutting them up for sale. Rather than being moved to a place with running water and waste facilities, these fish are chemically treated and these chemicals are being tossed directly into the water daily at Red Spot Beach. Pretty sure you can go down in the late afternoon and witness this disgusting practice any day for yourself.
Yes I have seen the same thing and the fishermen peeing on the seawall. It is disgusting. Why is government not doing something about it. Because they are totally incompetent . Chris Johnson must be so frustrated.
Dealers gonna deal. These “fishermen” are his “people” don’t forget.
That is until he forces Mr. Johnso to sell his land. Then watch how fast Bryan boots the Fish Sellers off the property and covers over the beach for his expanded port ambitions.
So Kenneth Bryan touts these Fish Sellers as Fisherman and this culture is unique in Cayman and should be preserved in only this place on Red Spot Beach. So does this “culture” include zero health standards? No running water or bathroom facilities? Does this “culture” include illegally dumping a concrete pad upon Mr. Chris’ land then illegally erecting three tents upon his land? None of these actions were ever addressed by the government. They simply let the Fish Sellers do whatever they chose to do regardless of planning laws or public safety or health requirements that other businesses are required to meet in order to conduct business. Mr. Bryan says this MUST BE preserved on THIS piece of land, yet he conveniently leaves out the fact that during Covid, out of an abundance of caution and due to health considerations, the government actually moved the Fish Sellers to the south terminal where they sold (didn’t catch) fish for 6 months and appropriately had running water and bathroom facilities. The government ALSO offered the Fish Sellers several other places to relocate which would have better health and safety conditions but the Fish Sellers refused even though they had been moved during Covid. So why are they being allowed to conduct business back where they have no bathroom facilities and no running water? If it was unsanitary to be selling fish on Red Spot Beach during Covid, IT STILL IS! Where is Planning? Where is the health department?! Exactly what are the health standards now that these Fish Sellers are back squatting on Mr. Chris’ land? Do they secretly relieve themselves on the beach or against the wall THEN with no running water go back to handling the fish they sell? Mr. Chris wants to DONATE and foot the bill to beautify his property at no cost to the government for the use of all Caymanians in perpetuity and to visiting tourists as a clean and safe beach in George Town where they can have a distinctly Cayman experience to enjoy.
I would assert that Mr. Bryan could put in place a permanent facility for the Fish Sellers with running water and bathroom facilities on the land they already purchased for over 5 Million CI but have done nothing with in 4-5 years. And the cost to the government would be FAR less than what it would cost to buy Mr. Chris’ property.
The REAL question is this: If Mr. Bryan is allowed to force the sale of Mr. Chris’ land, once that hurdle is passed, what is keeping the government from moving the Fish Sellers off Red Spot Beach, as they did during Covid, in order for Mr. Bryan and Mr. Bush to push through their goal of expanding the Cruise Ship Port even if the vast majority of Caymanians have made it Crystal clear that they do NOT want it?
Thank you Ariel for making these very good points. What the government fails to see is that the fishmongers take up the entire parcel of OPY 5 which they have done so for many years. That was not the case when I purchased the land in 1973. What I am trying to achieve is to go back in time in order that all residents and tourists can use the facilities for no cost, unlike Balboa Beach, next door. It should not be used for three fishmongers for their personal enrichment or any other vendors. It must be available to the public at large. None of this prevents genuine fishermen catching and selling fish as they did 50 years ago.
I should add that CNS has done a good unbiased article unlike that of Simon Boxall whose article was not just bias but highly inaccurate. I spent an entire hour with him giving him a potted history of the location since 1968. Much of this I learnt from old Caymanians such as Joan Wilson,Colin Panton,Carey Hurlstone, Mona Bush, and several other south sounders. He just ignored it. Perhaps he should stick with weather forecasting.
Finally I would point out that the government made me an offer to buy OPY 6 which I do not own. They meant OPY7 where there are no fishmongers.the third parcel at Red Spot is owned by Kel Thompson so why is government not buying that land. That my friends is discrimination.
In conclusion the government, by using the Land Act to purchase a persons land by court order, is a dangerous precedent. Who will be next I wonder.
I would vote for a slice of bread if it was eligible to run against this man.
vote for carmen mcfield then
Less use than a slice of bread.
Whats the matter with unna dont you know fools need representation too!
Kenneth Bryan’s forced grab of Chris Johnson’s land is a blatant attack on our rights by a minister mired in scandals. The Cayman Airways Barbados deal he touted collapsed, sticking taxpayers with an estimated US$800,000 loss when Barbados didn’t pay—yet we can’t get the real number, hinting at a cover-up. He’s dodged accountability for illegal roadside signage, funneled real estate deals to his wife while in office, and now he’s trampling Johnson’s property rights with a flimsy fish market excuse, ignoring a $5.6M unused lot up north. Support Chris Johnson if you value your legal rights—his fight is ours. He’s offering a free beach park for all, but Bryan wants control, likely for his hush-hush cruise plans. What else is he hiding? If he can take Johnson’s land, your property could be next. This is tyranny, not governance.
Agree, and I’m with you.
to 9.43 Why won’t Chris simply donate the land to the National Trust then?
Chris is doing his part by standing his ground. Handing that to the National Trust would put that organization in the soup and they would have to dedicate time and resources to this instead of other good works.
Why should he. It is his land and decision. Give the guy a break. You need target Bryan
Bryan would still want the land for the cruise ships.
Ahh, victim-blaming, so why doesn’t Bryan move the “Fish Sellers” to a sanitary site with running water and bathroom facilities as they did during Covid? Why did the government allow concrete to be poured on Mr. Johnson’s land without planning or the owner’s permission? Why did the government allow THREE permanent tents to be installed without planning or the owner’s permission? Why does the government allow fish to be sold without corresponding health and safety requirements?! The fact that Mr. Johnson is willing to put the land in a trust and pay to beautify it is not enough for you? How about the fact that the government has given Mr. Johnson ZERO evidence that they will do their job in protecting a citizen’s private property? Given all that has transpired, why would Mr. Johnson trust the government?!!!
What do you mean Barbados didn’t pay?
Whah ya seh?
Carmen McField – save us.
Carmen call Chris! Get together this is a joke.
George town voters is who you need to ask to save you! Kenneth didnt march in and snatch the seat, he was voted in by GT voters.
fishmarket???…i went their several times looking for a tin of salmon…all they did was tell me to go to kirks!!
‘caymankind’….zzzzzzzzzz
are you slow?
Fish market? A farce—I went for fish and got sent to Kirk’s. ‘Caymankind’? Pure con—fish from Jamaican and Nicaraguan waters, soaked in chemical preservatives, then left rotting in the hot sun with no ice, landing people in the hospital yearly. Chris Johnson’s begging for a lawsuit letting this toxic mess fester while Bryan, who once peddled heritage excuses, keeps up his shady games.
Lololol
another fine mess courtesy of cig and the civil service.
kenneth bryan…a walking advertisement for direct rule.
and do-nothing-ppm welcome him in???….tells you everything you need to know about them….power hungry leopards never change their spots
if we are so concerned about the fisherman, why is there not a plan to build a proper fish market- you know with ventilation, running water, bathrooms and the requirements that every other business has to have. DO they have a trade and business license? How can anyone think the fish has been stored and treated properly? what about thinking about parking. put them in one of the nice swanky glass buildings on the water kenneth built. so much more hygenic.
take a look at all the fish markets in Barbados. built properly and fish kept fresh….
Every year people go to the hospital due to chemical poisoning because of fish from here… very sad that Caymanian people do not even care about Caymanians.
Because its got nothing to do with the fisherman or the fish market.
This government got more important things to worry about.
Yea, like making lots of money from the dump job…
Crawl, crawl on your knees!!
I found yesterday’s Compass story about this subject contained false equivalences and the kind of both-sides-ism that artificially amplified the wrong side of this argument, and so biased the article against the owner of the property.
No one is denying that authentic Caymanian fisherman have brought in their own catch to that beach for many decades.
The picture with Strathvale house in the background, so no earlier than ~1998, had a canoe in it, which underpins the argument that they were indeed local fishermen selling their own catch. No one is saying they can’t continue to do that, if there are any such “men of iron” left.
It was then, and still is now, illegal to build on someone else’s land, without planning permission, especially if it is to run an unhygienic fishmonger’s stall stocked with fish imported from Honduras.
Caymanians used to reject squatters and higglers. They should continue to do so.
I was disappointed with your story Simon. You are usually much better than that.
I am more disappointed with CIG’s complete failure to enforce its laws against such behavior.
The article failed to point out that it is an offence to trade without a license, unless you are a Caymanian fisherman selling your own catch. How many of these people are Caymanian, let alone fishermen, and how much of the catch is their own?
And in the article how come Orett Connor is quoted like he is some sort of expert on the history of the “fish market”. Of course it allows him to make a snide remark about non indigenous people which he and his buddy “Dr” Steve McField like to do but he knows diddly squat about that area back in the day.
If this emotional situation allows government to set a precedent of seizing people’s land, then it will cause immense trouble in the future. Future governments will make up a lot of reasons why they need to seize private property and those people advocating for seizing this time might be on the other side next time!
All these comments have the same theme. What I cannot understand is that these contributors all seem to be smart people willing to say it like it is, yet a majority of citizens have voted for our current M.P.s. Come election time the only qualification to be elected should be honesty and integrity.
Point taken, but you can’t assume that everyone commenting here is in his district.
I never vote for a PPM candidate because I can never let them have any majority, but I assure you I have only been able to vote in GT.
Julianna gets in on 300 votes. The electoral system is a huge problem.
Is there nobody who will run against this buffoon?
yes carmen mcfield, vote for her if only to get this foll out
fool…
Carmen McField
Where is Carmen? Has she posted her vote? Does she even care about land rights?
yes yes and yes
also this is easily looked up if you take the time instead of asking anonymously on CNS
Yes, and Anthony Ramoon will be our next representative in GTC.
Caymanian people, remember how hard we fought to get that port project abandoned. Remember the School that cost us $300 million, the Dump Failure that cost us tens of Millions! The PPM is a destructive, very destructive government and will bankrupt this country. A vote for Kenneth Bryan and the PPM will be a vote for the port and the rapid destruction of the environment. It will be the nail in Cayman’s coffin!
LTD Da Unboozler
Just shows you the type of people the PPM are.
His pants are about to burst into flames.
yep, but he won’t burn as he’s coated in teflon
I strongly dislike Mr. Bryan. He is everything that is bad about current Cayman politics and I hope people see through his lies.
The genius of government. A private citizen has publicly stated that he wants to renovate land, place it in Trust for the people, and all at his own cost.
The government instead want to pay way over the market valuation for it (once they work out where it is, FFS) and buy it from him. The same land he doesn’t want any money for and wishes to grant to the people.
You really cannot make this up. Glad Joey has grabbed his chance and welcomed this genius into the PPM to increase that party’s acumen.
Two things come to mind.
Personal vendetta.
Favorite realtor.
Yep doesn’t take a very high IQ to figure out there is an ulterior motive.
Kenny always has an ulterior motive.
Kudos to Chris Johnson for wanting to gift his property to the people of the Cayman Islands.
Believe it or not people, but that little piece of property has become a real tourist attraction in its own right. Drive by that beach on any day that there are cruise ships in the harbour. You will see cruise ship tourists wading in the pristine blue water of that beach, only a few hundred yards in front of where their cruise ship is floating. They take pictures and selfies of themselves in the water there with their cruise ship in the background.
Tell me where else in the world can you stand waist deep in clear blue water, with your cruise ship floating a few hundred yards behind you? And the water between you and the cruise ship is clear and beautiful? The proposed cruise ship port expansion would totally destroy this experience currently enjoyed by cruise passengers. Our pristine blue water harbour will be entirely destroyed and marred with silt and debris from dredging it up.
Pity they have to see and smell rotten fish! Would be more pristine if Government moved the fishy ‘Fishery’ to Government land purchased by this (these) devious bulls******* that cost millions! Let them argue why they don’t do this…or do they not know where that is?!
I agree with your sentiment, but when I walked by there this past January the water was in NO WAY pristine blue. Don’t mask the fact that this small patch of sand is a horrible place to be wading and enjoying a ‘beach.’
With all due respect, you are supporting the moving of the Fish Market. Could it be that RedSpot Brach is less pristine because of the Fish Seller’s practices? Do they dump or clean buckets they use after cleaning chemical laden fish into the water since they have no running water or place to discard waste? Do they piss in buckets since there are no bathroom facilities and dump that into the water? These are legitimate concerns for health and safety given the chemicals used to preserve the Honduran caught fish that they sell as “fresh.” Moving the Fish Market to a more sanitary spot with bathroom facilities would make Red Spot Beach even more of an attraction given that Mr. Johnson wants to pay to increase access and beautify Red Spot Beach which has been abused (pouring concrete slabs and putting up three tents with no permission to do so. And unsanitary health practices) by the Fish Sellers. And restoring Red Spot Beach to what it was BEFORE there were actual Fishermen OR Fish Sellers there is supporting the only open beach area in downtown for Caymanians or Cruise Ship visitors to enjoy.
This entire thing is about special interests telling/?paying politicians to put together land for the port project at our expense. No respect for anyone’s rights or anything else that gets in the way.
We can thank Magistrate Philippa McFarlane for not recording a conviction and allowing Kenny to have a political career, what an unfortunate decision.
Kenneth cant keep his lies strait anymore.
straight…
There isn’t a straight bone in his body, and if he gets reelected we’re in dire straits. Note the spelling and usage.
I would not believe Kenny if he told me that the sun rises in the east.
That’s because it rises in the west in GTC
He came on the radio and made big announcements regarding upliftments for pensioners, seamen and veterans, stating that we would all get our monthly stipend increase from $1250 to $1500 which would be retroactive from Jan 2025. Up until today’s date nothing further has been said.or done leaving us in limbo. I listened him on the radio on Friday 21/2:/25 never even mentioned. I contacted the Pension Board and they appear to be oblivious of this. We all are deserving of this as we worked hard and with the present Cost of Living it would come in very helpful to us all.
Soon come
Like his public transport system.
Great so not only are they using public funds to buy it above market but also are going to spend public funds on legal fees ect to force it through.
Win win for the people of Cayman.
Kick all the corrupt liars out.
Who’d we be left with?
Better off with no one!
The Governor could appoint people like Winston Conolly and Marco Archer. We have lots of good people. It is our systems of governance that are corrupt.
People are corrupt!
Why would the Governor appoint them? Then fury of UK taking over blah, blah. Why don’t you own your ‘democracy’ and vote for the right people?
Because the right people won’t run.
Caymanians elected them.
This appears to be the true face of the current government. A stone face which doesn’t care what you want or what you own if it serves their agenda. If they want it, they will get it. I don’t want our future government to have hidden agendas and projects. I don’t want our children to be obligated to paying for projects throughout perpetuity that benefit them little or none. I want a government that is responsive to the collective will of the electors. What are your dreams?
we know that is the real reason. I knew that before the environmental groups said anything. The blind man in China knows that.
Add to the mix some petty maliciousness from his next door neighbour, who Chris called out on his flagrant ( and successful) breach of planning permission, and Mac, who would get considerable personal satisfaction in kiboshing anything dear to Chris – payback for all the commentary on Macs shenanigans.
And yet the electorate keeps the BigMac in power and very, very wealthy. Who are the fools???
Fact CHEC that comment.
This is an extremely dangerous precedent and if allowed, puts everyone in danger of forced acquisition. The government failed to protect the public beach, it is now completely ruined with vendors destroying the peace and quiet it once offered. Now it is an overcrowded and noise polluted area with vendors pestering people to rent their chairs or buy their goods.
The simplest solution seems to be relocation to the already govt owned terminal, the public can still have access to buy the ‘fresh’ fish (which is another debate). Proper wash down facilities can be provided as well as hygiene inspections. I don’t know the owner or have any affiliation with him, but I hope he wins his case. And if any Caymanian fisherman wants to sell his fish there I say go try, because you will soon find out that it is an exclusive ‘club’ only.
Of course this is part of the cruise berthing “infrastructure” that he will inevitably want should there be a yes for.
The government is not disclosing information now and they did not in 2019. No information, vote NO!
They have declared the referendum to be Non Binding.
Voting no will make no difference. They’ll just do what they need to make the piers happen and their bank accounts fatten.
VOTE NO! Do not sit this out! It is non-binding, but this will likely still have some sway for the next government.
The only thing we can be sure of is when Kenneth Bryan speaks it’s unlikely to be the truth.
The government is being deceitful? No! Say it isn’t so!
If the fishermen can move to the other Crown owned parcel that Kenneth bought from Smatt, why not move them there since we already bought that?
Why spend more money to fight to compulsory acquire this parcel?
Is McKeeva the Real Estate agent on the transfer/acquisition?
Is Kenneth wife the Real Estate agent on the transfer/acquisition?
Is Kenneth wife the Real Estate agent for all the land that Cricket Square is buying in Scranton?
Check it out
If the fishermen can move to the other Crown owned parcel that Kenneth bought from Smatt, why not move them there since we already bought that?
Are you crazy?
1. There is far too much parking available in that area. People would be able to park and buy fish if they wanted to, but people would also be able to see them getting the Honduran fish out of their coolers.
2. The nearest liquor store is too close. The people who sit with beer in hand and watch the “fishermen” all day need the exercise.
3. There would be too much space which might encourage more fishermen to actually bring their catch ashore there.
4. They could even anchor the boats off there so you could see the boats going out and coming back with fresh fish.
5. If you open that location now they would be not be able to move there later when Kenny closes Dora’s beach to build the piers.
WHERE IS THE LOL BUTTON WHEN YOU NEED IT???
No, Kenneth’s wife is not the real estate agent.
Chris should not have pointed out the mistake with the block and parcel and just let them start proceedings against the wrong land hahahah
It makes no difference as they will find out sooner or later. Originally they made an offer for the three parcels I have. Then reduced it to just two.both offers were a joke.
As you see the cruise ship passengers love Red Spot Beach. The owners of these cruise ship companies do not want the beach to go into Government ownership.
In fact they would prefer to own it themselves as they do the beaches in the Bahamas.
Now you tell me what you all want me to do?
Sell to CIG
Sell to a cruise ship owner
Put into a trust for the people of the Cayman Islands with no commercial activities.
Chris, don’t sell—lock Bryan and Big Mac in prison for this corrupt land grab and stand firm with your trust for the people.
Do exactly as you are doing, what is right is right!
Johnson wants to donate the property to the people of the Cayman Islands…for their use as a place of recreation and access to beach and sea. Leave him alone and let him do that ffs.
Can’t trust anything Kenneth Bryan says, and anything he does is geared towards personal gain.
Yes, and if Chris doesn’t do what he says he wants to do within a reasonable period of time , then the Govt can acquire it. What’s the hurry?
Just like he denied selling cocaine and assaulting a police officer. He was lying then too.
And exactly why convicted criminals should not be able to hold public office.