Increasing tenant density stirs up concerns
(CNS): RCIPS Community Officers have been working with the residents of Windsor Park to address community concerns about derelict vehicles, illegal parking, stray dogs, drug dealing and anti-social behaviour. Police said the increase in multi-tenant housing means more cars and very little parking, which is leading to headaches for residents. These issues have been causing friction in the area for some time.
RCIPS officers visited areas of concern and discussed parking violations, including obstructions, double parking and parking on sidewalks, and returned a few days later with enforcement officers from the Department of Environmental Health and tagged nine derelict vehicles for removal.
Police issued four tickets for parking violations and, with the support of the Traffic and Roads Policing Unit, issued another nine for other traffic offences. The officers also engaged with people about what is and is not permissible regarding parking in the area.
Police said one homeowner of a residence was in the process of adding additional parking spaces, which will help stop the illegal parking. However, this issue stems from the increase in residents in the area, as landlords squeeze in more and more tenants into properties.
As reported on CNS last October, landlords are cramming as many beds into their accommodation as they can in order to meet the huge demand for low-cost housing. As poorly paid workers struggle to find affordable accommodation, the resulting increasing density of communities is fueling social problems.
While conducting checks at the community park in the area, police also arrested one person for possession and consumption of controlled drugs, as well as attempting to supply ganja.
“Our officers will continue to carry out random checks in the area and work with the residents of the community, along with our partner agencies, to find the best ways to continue to address the issues which affect them,” said Superintendent Roje Williams.
“The police and our partners are aware of the changing nature of some of our communities in recent years. Windsor Park is a prime example, where an increase in multi-tenant housing means more cars at residences. As such, a balanced approach must be taken, where we consider the needs of all parts of the community when trying to find workable solutions. This is just one example of the work we do in the communities that we serve, and we will respond to any concerns brought to our attention,” he added.
Animal welfare officers from the Department of Agriculture also assisted the police in rounding up stray dogs, which were also said to be becoming a problem in the neighbourhood.
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Category: Crime, Local News, Police
WORC failing in its obligations again. Did it think the accommodation forms are just for shits and giggles? Why is WORC allowing this?
Why is it that we are always dodging the truth andvtheczfsmn elephants in the room viz; too many damn immigrant workers vs the local populace.
Why is it so hard for the elected representatives to speak the truth and take and/or create the proper measures to stop this madness. Yes this madness tgst is eventually going to stagnate the broth and the quality of life within these Islands. Why do we elect our bredren who don’t have a clue In governance. Management, economics, integrity and real love of Country? Why?
Time to reflect and yo act voting populace and to encourage people who can do better than those you have now to come out and represent your Caymanian interests as opposed to everyone coming in waving da Yankee Dollar and making dem millionaires in 4 Yeeess if not befire( just imagine dem who weee there for 8 years or more with the power in their hands how they have grown girth and all. My my we really gol fool you know!
Derelict vehicles and all these other Windsor Park things are also choking Bodden Town ( aka Little Kingston). Just as an example, on the main road ( the side roads are even worse), the lot directly…directly…next to Webster Church has at least 15 crapped out derelict vehicles on it all the time plus closed doors and windows in the house so you can’t see nothing. Sometimes a real car shows up with loud Jamaican music but you don’t know who’s in it because the windows are completely black. Oh, and did I say that the Police Station is less than a quarter of a mile away. But I guess nothing suspicious is going on there or John John would have it under control.
that’s fine. Only 99% of visitors drive past there, and about 85% of local residents traveling into GT. Plus the neighbours really get that delight for the eyes at all times!
There’s actually another similar lot just west of that one ( which I agree is very ugly, very suspicious and very prominent) which is almost as bad. The number of derelict vehicles in BT is staggering when you check out the side roads too. Come to think of it, the number of derelict people in BT is staggering too but that’s another issue.
isn’t it a fire code violation? Fire Marshal?
Probably, just like the short term rental cabal defrauding their insurers in using their properties in the same way as hotels.
I’m sorry, why again do you care so much about insurance companies?
When one of these places goes up in flames and we have fatalities then we will see who’s responsible
Proper public transport would make this go away overnight.
Our dirty little secret is that Cayman is only able to keep up the façade of a first world country because we have what is essential an indentured servant class. These people do the jobs that allow us to pretend everything is ok. They are the people working construction, they are the ones tending your houses, they are the ones keeping the shelves stocked at the store stocked, they are the ones keeping your car running, they are the ones serving you food.
We have the standard of living we do largely because these people are kept in poverty and are living 10 to a room and the fact that our solution to this is to increase policing in these areas instead of doing anything to ease the burden for them is telling as to who we are a people and the content of our character.
The solution is and always has been a first world bus or tram or public transport system. This island has no form of public transport, so you can’t live a 20 minute drive from where you work and get there efficiently and on time and economically. If we had that you could develop east end, live there, and get a traffic free reliable transport route to work on the west of the island if needed. Cayman is the size and population of a small UK town. It has a car accident and gun crime rate per population May many times higher than the uk equivalent, higher than most of the worst cities in the western world. Cayman also spends more government money per pupil on state education than any G20 country and as a result, it’s only good for the worse educational capability at age 18 of any place in the western world. I blame the inept PPM. PACT, and whatever was before them and me arriving on this island 20 years ago. The solution is education, transport, and infrastructure planning on a generational basis. This planning will take 15 years to see results. I hold my breath.
Now why you had to go get all fancy with ya ç and had me wiping my screen lol
These types of jobs DO NOT needs permit holders. These are simple jobs that MUST be kept aside for young Caymanians who are graduating high school. Not everybody can get scholarships and have the best grades. Some of these jobs needs to be held for the new graduates. Less people needing to be scrunched up inside these so called rental properties. And less cars taking up space in these small rental homes.
Missing the forest for trees. The issue is not Who is doing these jobs its what these jobs pay. Holding these jobs for Caymanians coming out of high school just changes who is in Poverty.
Its doesn’t matter what nationality these people are, Caymanian, Cuban, Jamaican, Honduran, American, German, it doesn’t matter. The simple fact is that these conditions are a result of poverty wages plain and simple. Getting nationality mixed up in it is asinine and counter productive. These jobs need to pay a living wage if you actually want to fix the problem, otherwise all you are achieving is changing the language the people these ghettos speak.
These poor souls are likely tied to the construction industry, which will not stop consuming the island.
They are not the problem, but simply a side effect of developmemt.
Another story on the same page “Duty waivers for wealthy developer”! Who’s betting the powers that be will join the dots? Yeah, me neither!
“As reported on CNS last October, landlords are cramming as many beds into their accommodation as they can in order to meet the huge demand for low-cost housing. As poorly paid workers struggle to find affordable accommodation, the resulting increasing density of communities is fueling social problems.”
Therin lies our problem! All while our Parliament clown house raises their own pay regularly, give the rich developer whatever they want and kick the many social cans down the road.
What?! Rich people buying up everything in sight and building luxury homes and condos makes poverty worse?!
Shocking, said no one.
Prosecute the Caymanian owners…never said anyone.
It is said everyday, alongside there expatriate owner-handlers !
These owners are in fact Jamaicans who are violating all the planning laws.
Adding shacks without permits.
…… rigging electricity.
No sanitary arrangements.
Generally making fools of their host country and its laws.
Plenty of Caymanian slum landlords, too.
Many of them originally Jamaican, 12:53.
Sad state of affairs when it’s “news” that enforcement agencies are doing what they’re supposed to be doing every day.
Ummm, the tenant density is the result of various breaches of various laws. And the RCIP are concerned?
Damn them all.
Where is the good governance we have paid for and are promised?
Do the Air B&B, VRBO and the rest of the short term rentals have to comply with Planning department fire and safety codes like hotels and new apartments?
Asking for a friend.
Yes. And they are licensed under the Tourism Act. It is the long term rentals that are the problem.
Fake news. You short term rental owners can garner more from visitors than you can residents, which drives rent costs for residents higher and higher.
A scourge on society and residents grifting and ruining the rental market.
Yes. They are inspected annually by Fire Department, Tourism Department, and DEH before the license is issued.
So they all have fire alarm systems and fire sprinkler systems like the hotels do?
Insured as temporary lodging, as hotels are?
It is the same use, after all.
YUP
Your insurer aware you are using the property the same way as a hotel?
Are you insinuating that the insurers are not doing their due diligence? Sure seems that way.
Not at all. You short term rental owners are likely not informing them that you are using residential property as commercial.
Hoping Karma soon come.
Oh dear! The poor, poor insurance companies! Who will help them?
Yes they do
Is your insurer aware you are using your property in the same way that hotels do?
If someone is injured or killed in your short term rental, who do you think the injured are coming after, as well as your insurer who has been duped.
All declared. All in the open. All licensed. Tourism taxes paid. All inspected.
Congrats on ruining the rental markets and the grift enabled by lackluster CIG agencies uncertified in safety.
How did my small beachfront condo “ruin” the local rental market?
Not my problem. Use your X a bit more wisely next time.
Yes they do.
Trailer homes in BT just past the police station right on the main road being ignored though. Must be for someone impotant.
Short term rentals are more prevalent than housing for the poor, and their insurers have no idea that they are using their homes as commercial hotel type uses.
Is there no regulation of how many unrelated people can live in one apartment?
Yes. And planning laws. And public health laws. And trade and business licensing laws. And immigration laws.
All ignored with impunity.
Hey. RCIP – you know this means government agencies are literally not doing their jobs, right? You know that may be an offense – a very serious one?
Not just ignored. The “regulators” are complicit.
We are corrupt.
Depends who the owners of the apartments are.
We have it. Like everything else, we do not enforce it. We then complain about the inevitable consequences of our failure to apply our own laws, ESPECIALLY when such enforcement may inconvenience a member of the chosen.
We are corrupt.
We have far greater density problems than these, in Parliament.
Same crap down Prospect Drive. Mixed in with the dru….I mean fishing boats it’s just lovely.
cayman fast approaching a tipping point….
said it before, cayman will soon become a place for the super wealthy and the low paid worker.
middle class caymanians should consider relocating overseas asap.
At 13/07/2023 at 11:34 am. Bollocks. Middle class Caymanians should consider pulling up their f’ing socks and taking their country back from wealthy foreigners and low paid foreigners.
impossible.
sad thing is cayman cannot survive or operate without the people crammed into these shacks….its all they can afford.
cayman economy is a house of cards and cig continues to waste a billion dollars every year with none of the real issues facing cayman addressed.
ghetto. and cig does nothing.
Extreme gentrication creates abject poverty and crime.
So the aim should be for moderate gentrification?
The Seven Mile beach areas are gentrified enough. Once the Lacovia monsterous monument to wealth is built, its just a matter of time before the rest of the older and charming buildings are razed for high rise buildings to cater to the wealthy.
If things continue as they will, 7MB will become a private beach.
sure they do, by enabling the rich fat cats to buy up and develop luxury homes
The double yellow lines really don’t work unless there is also a tow truck, an impound lot, a hefty release fee of $300+, and time hassle. Urban centers with these 4 things, don’t have a lot of illegal parking. PACT have also made transportation considerably harder on lower wage earners. There are no connecting bike corridors, reliable public transportation alternatives, and all cars over 6yrs in Cayman now have to be repaired indefinitely by mechanics and shops that don’t know what they are doing. Taking a car in to “get fixed” often means having it returned with all new problems.
Its true. Most mechanics here are absolutely terrible. I’ve been working on my own vehicles for years now and it’s been great. Certain jobs I’m not able to do so I have to use a mechanic from time to time because I don’t have the specialty tools.
Older cars are generally not difficult to work on and there are multiple guides online to help you diagnose and fix problems. just need a jack, jack stands, mechanic’s tool kit , OBD2 scanner and torque wrench to deal with 90% of problems your car will develop as well as general mantainence like fluid changes. You will save a great deal of money and your car will be repaired properly along with the satisfaction of doing a good job by yourself.
All true, especially the double yellow lines. Check South Church Street any evening and cars are parked all along double yellow lines – never a police car in sight!