Airport projects may be shelved as NCFC shapes policy
(CNS): As the public consultation period on redevelopment projects at the three airports draws to a close, government officials have said the various proposals are all under review. The Cayman Islands Airports Authority is currently consulting on the draft Terms of Reference (ToRs) for environmental impact assessments (EIAs) on the controversial projects, which the premier told CNS will provide valuable data to help the coalition shape its policy. But no decision has been made on these redevelopment plans.
The tourism minister in the previous administration, Kenneth Bryan, had backed all the proposed projects the CIAA wanted to pursue as part of its Grand Master Plan. However, the costly proposals have raised a number of concerns, which were highlighted at the recent public meetings on the ToRs.
The proposal to extend the runway at Owen Roberts International Airport on Grand Cayman by 1,900 feet into the North Sound not only threatens the marine environment, but at an estimated cost of almost $28 million, it is also an expense that was not justified in the original outline business case.
CNS has also learned that there are no existing agreements in place for any European airlines to fly directly into Cayman.
At a meeting last week, Kerith McCoy, a former CIAA chairperson, said the current management team appeared to be operating on the basis of “if we build it, they will come”, since no long-haul European carriers have made any deals to do so.
He stated that during his long career, the CIAA had spoken with airlines, but no commitments were ever made. He pointed out that Cayman is not marketed in Europe and warned that the authority was risking a costly project with no benefits.
His comments echoed those made in many CNS comments on the subject and on social media, in which people voiced environmental as well as cost concerns surrounding what many see as an unnecessary project. But it now appears that the Cayman Islands Government is also reconsidering the wisdom of such a project at this stage.
Meanwhile, at a meeting in Little Cayman, where the CIAA continues to claim that the Civil Aviation Authority won’t certify the Edward Bodden Airfield anymore — a claim that has been made for more than two decades — residents of the island once again made it very clear they do not want the airport to be moved or made bigger.
While there are huge costs and environmental concerns associated with the proposed new location in a completely undeveloped part of the island, the residents of the smallest of the three Cayman Islands also worry that a new airport with a lengthy runway would lead to the development of the island that the majority of residents don’t want.
They have made it clear, time and time again, that relocation is not their preferred option, despite the project manager’s constant claim that this was so.
With District Administration Minister Nickolas DaCosta and Parliamentary Secretary Wayne Panton in attendance, the government representatives stated that the move was by no means set in stone and that the CIG would consider expanding the terms of reference for the Little Cayman project EIA to include bringing the current location up to meet safety standards.
Panton made it clear that no decision has been made yet, but the government should consider all of the options within the EIA process.
He explained that the UK, as well as the CAA, requires the government to look into what can be done about the situation in Little Cayman and to engage in the EIA process, but that doesn’t mean the airfield must be relocated. He said discussions were ongoing among NCFC members about what they want to prioritise.
DaCosta said the government recognises the need for safety upgrades. The current consultation began under the previous administration, but the new government has yet to make any decisions about the airport projects.
He also noted that there were many options to consider, but one of the most important factors is that the CIG is facing financial problems and a potential deficit. He also confirmed that the government wants the alternative option of redeveloping the existing airfield reviewed under the ToRs.
Speaking to CNS after the meetings, Premier André Ebanks and Tourism Minister Gary Rutty both confirmed that the airport projects were being reviewed by the coalition alongside a long list of proposals currently on the table.
Ebanks said that this new administration came into office with a “process of consultation that’s already in train from the prior administration”, and since the consultants were here from overseas to do the EIAs, it made sense to continue the process. He said the data this will produce will help the NCFC decide what to do.
“This administration hasn’t made any firm decisions on any of the three projects… as we’re taking stock of this information, and as it comes back, we can make a data-driven decision,” he added.
See all of the public meetings on the CIAA Facebook pages:
Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, Little Cayman
and see more about the whole public consultation on the EIA ToRs here.
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Category: development, Local News, Policy, Politics, Travel
I attended the Little Cayman meeting and could not believe what I was hearing from the CIAA project manager. He stated that the new airport was needed because the last time the CIAA had spoken to Cayman Airways, their “intention” (at the time) was to replace the Sabb and Twin Otter with the ATR-42. How many years ago did that story appear in the Compass? And how many ATR-42s does Cayman Airways now own?
Better yet, in reference to Owen Roberts, he said the runway extension was needed to accommodate 787s and A350s, in particular because BA “will be retiring the 777”. He might want to tell BA that so they can cancel the current order they have for 24 new 777s, to go with 59 already in their fleet!
5@8:26am. Exactly! I was at the GCM meeting and there were similar statements which don’t add up.
and the Brac…??? #crickets
Definitely need to extend the runway, from West End Point to Point of Sand. That way it can be shared.
The only thing the Brac needs is for the entire population to be removed. A glorified off the books welfare state does a summer make.
They need to be brought into the real world.
Tell us you don’t live on the Brac and are clueless without actually saying so.
I doubt very much a surly blowhard such as you could last two hours working beside me, and I’m far from unique on the Brac.
Kenny getting ratioed left right and center, his beach land grab? got the law book dropped on it, his beloved cruise port?, dead in the water, his billionaire airport? wings have been clipped, his beloved daddy big mac? taken out with the rest of the trash.
It’s pointless how many Europeans or South Americans are going to come, the island is already too expensive for many tourists but for rich Americans or rich Europeans that come on ba. Sorry but they’re much much much more likely to head to Barbados or Saint Lucia or any other part of the Carib that isn’t over developed, the developers dont see it but eventually cayman will just become another island if we’re not careful How many times is BA booked out?
This Government is anti-development. There will be no road to Frank Sound no Airport runway extension and no Litte Cayman Airport.
Correction – This government is prudent and has decided not to burden future generations with massive debt so that the development cabal can get richer.
You wanna pay for it.. show the money!
That arterial road would have been a tremendous waste of time and money in any event.
ok, present a clear cut case on why those projects are needed and present a collective good for the nation. Not just short term, but long term.
We have outgrown the parking at the ORA. Every Friday and each long weekend is the same headache.
All prior Govts fault who did not have the vision to purchase Andy’s lots across the street
3/6@4.42pm – Absolutely! I have direct of how the decision was made to not buy the property which is now Andy’s..it wasn’t then. The CAA (which ran airports then) was given the first right of refusal. The vendor was the late Joseph (Ole Joe) Ebanks and his agent presenting the offer was the late Mackie Powell, waiting outside.
The CAA decision to outrightly reject the offer of $2m, not even negotiate, was directed by the Dep.CAA Chair, the late esteemed lady MP from NS.The Chairman, being the the Minister of Aviation (in those days) and others totally capitulated.
The late Andy Parsons then snapped it up. There’s more…..
Imagine doing something as simple as, you know, getting a lift and dropped off…
A cell phone lot would be nice.
It’s not fun (or good for the air) driving in literal circles for half an hour while you wait for your friend/family to come out of the airport.
4@9:15am – cell phone lot was considered in the 2015-17 development but it would’ve added costs No?
I’d use Uber, if we had it! I’m not putting a dollar into the hands of a taxi driver here. They cannot drive for s**t and they’re expensive.
Not all of them. Try Miss Tammy.
https://www.caymancompass.com/2024/09/02/work-begins-on-new-long-term-parking-facility-at-airport/
As it costs me more to get a taxi to and from Crewe Road than it does to park for a week, I’ll continue driving to the airport and hedging my bets on finding a spot.
Go up. Geez. Make it multi-level so at least there will be shade.
05@10:51am – multi-level LT (at least) parking was recommended around 2006/7. Rejected!
How about fixing the dump?
The f’ing dump.
That’s a helipad.
Ski slope
We definitely need the East-west 4 lane highway and block all development in George Town and 7 mile beach its overgrown already. Allow development only in all the other districts from savannah going east. We have space for larger acreage to be subdivided to at least 13500 sq feet. Open up the central Mangrove to the south of the proposed road going to East End. This will allow decentraling to the eastern districts and develop areas like Grand harbour and Countryside further east to other districts so people don’t need to drive to GT.
Cruise ship business is dying and so will the transport industry.
Noooo, just “be like” St.Lucia – Very successful Airport – on the OTHER side of the island away from town!
So does Jamaica. Montego Bay Airport anybody?
Zero reason to expand George Town- traffic, environment….
the Cayman Islands has the largest mangrove population of any Caribbean region is largely true. The Central Mangrove Wetland on Grand Cayman is the largest continuous mangrove wetland in the Caribbean. While there are other significant mangrove areas elsewhere, the Central Mangrove Wetland in the Cayman Islands is considered the largest intact area.
Key points about the Cayman Islands’ mangroves:
Largest Continuous Wetland:
The Central Mangrove Wetland on Grand Cayman is the largest continuous mangrove wetland in the Caribbean.
OK, say we do what you want, open up the central wetlands for development, shift large scare development east. Then what? Ok, so you build a few nice big hotels out east, whos gonna stay at them? once you have turned all the green spaces into condos, once the seaside is lined with condos, once 7 mile is but a series of hotels and sea walls, what then?
When Cayman is just miami with a higher cost of living, why would they come?
We need 2 cargo docks anywhere the CPR and environmentalists will allow it to be built because they control. the government. One in Grand Cayman and the other in Cayman brac.
Lol I love how you guys talk about them like they are some all mighty shadow hand of the government… funny that for all that power there has not been a private development that has been actually stopped for violating the NCA or planning laws. For being the hand of big brother it sure looks like every developer on island has no problem trampling all over the National Conservation Act. Hey you guys remember when Dart broke the law to build Kimpton? man… the environmentalist sure showed him right!.
Hey you remember how mangrove destruction was so prevalent that CPA just threw their hands up and gave out after the fact approvals?
Stop pretending you are being oppressed by the big bad greenies you infant.
Finally. Some common sense in government. 👏👏
For once in a long time wisdom has spoken. Thanks to the new-thinking Government.
Kenny, Kenny, Kenny boy you got the towners fooled or bought? I would not trust you even if you said you was in front of me and you was really in front of me.
Kerith is operating on knowledge that he had from over 10 years ago. While under his leadership there was no forward movement for the airport. If he wanted to hold back the airport from progressing he should have stayed onboard. The current leadership is doing a great job to improve the space constraints that have existed since Kerith’s time which he did nothing to address. Stick to driving taxi’s Sir!
Kadafe -In the meeting, Kerith began his commentary by acknowledging the present CIAA achieving the vision and intentions of previous administrations. Did he not? As for achievements, or lack thereof? Clown if you think SAGC or heads or Actg have the final say.
However, Kerith’s training and knowledge, courtesy of opportunities offered and taken during his almost 40-year career by CAD, CAA and CIAA, all paid by public dollars, would be a gross discredit to the public if he kept it under a bushel when situations require same.
Even driving “taxis” (chauffeur service), Kerith perhaps has more info on private aircraft passengers’ views on proposed GAT development than the MoT, DoT and CIAA combined.
Don’t knock experience Kadafe.
Leave Cayman Brac and Little Cayman alone. Our airports handle what we need and want.
Dump all the plans that the big spenders had proposed, and while you are at it, cut back on the Cayman Brac school.
…rather, CUT the Cayman Brac school…in its totality.
JuJu’s folly, at OUR expense, must be stopped.
Please stop the foolishness NCFC. We do not need or want Kenny B’s vanity airport plans and asinine priorities.
We voted to get rid of the USELESS BUNCH that were spending our money without any thought of the debt that they were burdening our children and grandchildren with.
For anyone who wants to see the 2023 cost projection for the 3 airports Master Plan, it is on the CIAA’s website at p 216. Total projected cost – $718 million for all 3 airports, and over $50 million going just to pave over a large part of Little Cayman. All that at a time when Caymanians are struggling,
You forgot to mention that there is absolutely no business case stated, let alone one that would justify the expenditure of hundreds of millions of dollars.
The same Useless bunch are also Paying consultants over $8Million to give us a $200Million resort prison so our criminals will be more comfortable and better fed.
Time to put a stop to the runaway spending on projects we can’t afford which provide no return.
Maybe Kenny wants it to be nice if he has to visit in the future.
And McWhoeewaya
That’s about $20,000 per Caymanian. Rich people, for sure.
There will be a rush to get space in the Northward Hilton…
Consultants get rich , criminals get fat, and Caymanians pay for it.
In addition , to embarking on such capital infrastructure projects at a time of uncertainty as it relates to U.S enforced tarrifs. Steel, aluminum, construction materials.
Anyone’s guess as to what the finished costs would be.
Andre, Gary… please take note of these comments and stop the wasteful spending being pushed by greedy consultants looking for massive fees and expenses paid first class travel for ‘meetings”.
Bingo! Thank you for posting!
you may have voted to get rid of them, yet more people voted to keep them. everyone of them that ran were re-elected. including two as part of the current government. So, please stop with the fantasy. Politics continues as usual. There’ll be lots of spin, but no significant differences
“He [Kerith McCoy] stated that during his long career, the CIAA had spoken with airlines, but no commitments were ever made.”
Same as with the cruise ships and lofty dreams of mega-ships disgorging tens of thousands of passengers her per month.
We can indebt future Caymanians with our unfounded plans, or we can lay back for a bit, rebuild the economy, fund smaller projects that directly and positively influence the people who live here.
“Go Big or Go Home” is not often the right course for a place of our size, especially in these charged times. More construction of boutique hotels = more underpaid expats, and more congestion on the roads. It’s too late to remake Grand Cayman into the gentle and enjoyable place it once was, but it’s not too late to preserve that quality in the Sister Islands.
People don’t fly from Heathrow or DFW, or MIA to land in an overpriced tropical urban sprawl; they fly here to find peace and sea, and enjoy one of the remaining laid-back, gentle seaside communities.
Well written! Thank you.
Talking about sea, let’s get Public Beach cleaned up so we can use it in peace!
and also important, they wanted to come here to experience that tranquility in SAFETY!. Jamaica has nice beaches, green lush spaces, hell mountains even, but the risk factor is always there and it can turn people off. We need to spend some time and capital on our own growing crime problem. Stop importing poverty, stop promoting the race to the bottom style of workers pay, work to rebuild the sense of community that allowed us to have that peaceful life style.