Minister says ignoring DoE advice has led to devastation
(CNS): In a post on her social media pages, Sustainability and Climate Resiliency Minister Katherine Ebanks-Wilks recognised that developers’ failure to heed science-based advice from the Department of Environment and the National Conservation Council has had a devastating impact on the Cayman Islands’ environment and economy.
Ebanks-Wilks wrote that ignoring sound scientific advice, such as building further back from the ocean and not building in flood-prone areas, in the face of climate change has led to the current erosion on Seven Mile Beach and increased flooding.
“Someone said to me yesterday that what we are facing on our beach is not about climate change; it’s about allowing developments to build too close to the ocean. I agree that we have allowed properties to build too close to the ocean,” she stated in her post.
“If you look at pictures of Seven Mile Beach 20 years ago, you would have said that the setbacks were reasonable. However, from back then, our scientists were advising us differently. Back then, [the] Department of Environment was talking about global warming.”
The minister, who has held the sustainability portfolio since Wayne Panton was ousted from office last October, said that “these conversations” about over-development and its confluence with rising sea levels were happening, “but many laughed and thought the Department of Environment was trying to cripple development. Yet, if you look at development in Cayman since the National Conservation Act was passed, it certainly has not slowed down development.”
Although the DoE and the NCC has been subjected to significant criticisms, including accusations by planning department officials, the Central Planning Authority and the developer lobby, the is the first time that Ebanks-Wilks has publicly voiced her support for the science-based advice that the DoE has offered and noted the poor development decisions that have been made.
“The scientists that work for our country have studied the impacts of Global Warming,” she said. The minister noted that what may appear to be blocked drains could now very well be full because the tides are higher.
“But developers have been allowed to build in flood-prone areas and fill their properties with no regard for the effects of neighbouring properties,” she said. “The setbacks, removal of seagrass beds, dredging, beach walls, stormwater management, the list goes on. We certainly need to plan ahead when it comes to development and that means considering environmental factors.”
Ebanks urged people to begin the discussion — though, in fact, discussions have been going on for many years. However, the environment has consistently lost to development because, even with the National Conservation Law, the battle has never been balanced.
Sustainable Cayman, now one of the largest and most vocal groups campaigning for much greater environmental protection in the Cayman Islands, has been campaigning against over-development and the destruction of mangroves for several years, urging the government to curb development on the coast and in the wetlands.
In a new video reel, the activists highlight the government’s failings and some of the decisions made by the current administration that Ebanks-Wilks supported, such as selecting a more environmentally damaging route for the East-West Arterial extension. They are urging voters to elect new representatives next year who will finally re-balance the situation in favour of this country’s natural resources.
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Category: Climate Change, development, Land Habitat, Local News, Science & Nature
Just to be clear, the real problem that caused this mess will not be dealt with properly.
Instead they will look for any other possible solution i.e. importing sand, you know, the typical band aid approach.
And the problem will continue.
Ah the irony, developers get what they want and now want to sue. Let the sea reclaim them all!
MP Katherine, thank you for standing up and speaking up. You are a shining example of the intelligence and boldness that is needed to lead our country but is so lacking in our government. Thank you.
There are TWO sets of people who have created this mess along SMB:
-1. Present and past governments because of GREED!
-2. The developers who were and are still being allowed to do as they pleased by the Governments, bending all the rules while being allowed to do so.
Let us not forget The NUMBER ONE RULE – Mother Nature does not discriminate and in this case, those who wronged her are rightly paying the high price. Absolutely no pity here from me.
Now the Cayman Islands will be hurt by such actions of thoughtless people.
The DoT will now have to brag about our 3 Mile Beach instead in their commercials and let’s see how many accolades shall roll in.
That Treasure Island groyne is definitely part of the problem. Flew over it on the weekend. It is certainly effective at keeping a beach inside and disrupting the movement of the sand along the coast. It’s amazing it was approved, even back in the early 80s. No doubt some palms (of the hand variety) were held out and duly filled.
CIG needs to remove it. That complex has staggered from one failure to another and there is no justifiable case for it to have this groyne that is adversely impacting the island’s primary attraction.
And, of course, all the other sea walls (walls now in the sea) need to be removed.
Thank you , that is the main cause of erosion. 1000% agree with you. No need for any Environmental Assessment to determine that.
An old failed theory with an old lack of science. 1) Solid walls; 2) Structures too close to the former beach. Get educated instead of spreading the least problem. Your post simply ignores the real culprits – typical lack of insight.
“And, of course, all the other sea walls (walls now in the sea) need to be removed.”
What part of that do you disagree with?
Putting it as an afterthought instead of the main variable.
It is incomprehensible that the government has done nothing and are only in emergency talks now. This should have been treat as an emergency years ago when the beach at Marriott receded. instead the govt approves more high rise monstrosities such as the hyatt thing near the Wharf, the ten storey at Westin and all the others. Mind-blowing. I am guessing consultants will be hired, the results will be kept from the public, such as the housing survey was. nothing will happen, like the minimum wage report and the beach will disappear. Island be a laughing stock. What a crying shame
I’m sorry, I still don’t know who this woman is!
You now know her name and her portfolio, just simply call the Govt. Admin office and ask to speak with her. Is that simple enough for you.. I agree with what she has to say., however it’s not only the developers not taking the advice of the DOE but also her elected representatives and the planning board that comes under her remit, Have a few words with your board members, better yet, get rid of them and select a board of persons who are scientifically informed, who are not complicit and who are not conflicted. I know that will be difficult to achieve but not impossible. Where there is a will there is away. Cathy you know what to do so just do it!
Nope rang up today.
No answer.
Ah planning board does NOT come under her remit thank God !!
whatever happened to the nice lady from North Side.
Our very own Umpa Lumpa Premier Juliana might just march right back from Samoa, and take Kathy’s Ministry to hand over to the ‘Donkey’ as a reward for… well, breathing! Because who wouldn’t want to see him leading the charge on sustainability, right? Only in the Cayman Islands can loyalty come with such shiny perks. What an absolute joke the lot of them.
When one walks along the streets from Hogsty Bay to Lobster Pot one sees sea walls.
they were built sometime after 1932 Hurricane. I love history and especially Roman history, the part where they invented cement. Hydraulic concrete wonderful invention. Why did the sea walls on 7 mile beach not stand up to the rough seas but the ones that were built in the 30’s did. Do you all not see the sand in these areas? Could it be that sand is being kept there by the location of the iron shore on either side of it? It is like that design at Beach bay or Sunset Cove (Treasure Island). Did their sand leave? Would expanding it to include a longer section say to pass Beach Club work? I don’t know I’m asking for a friend.
In my opinion I don’t believe it is the distance of the buildings who were all doing fine in the past. I do believe the weather is changing all over the Earth. It has been doing that change and we need to change with it. We can’t stop it. Here is a video of Puerto Rico which is the go to area for Hurricanes: https://youtu.be/RdixQEweDco?si=qQc3kl75bAOYS5DP. Love YouTube when you have a question just search
Actually, we knocked down the seawall at Red Spot Bay as it was crumbling into the sea as a result of the sand not being washed when it was used. This is the same as the aqua Bay Condos now about to be knocked demolished. Many sea walls are curved and those on 4 mile beach should also have been curved.
There are other Caribbean countries who have no seawalls, intact beach ridges and larger setbacks for development and theyve lost just as much beach. So its clearly not JUST the structures causing erosion but they are definitely a catalyst.
Many think it started at Treasure Island and theyre probably right. But all the constant beach grooming for beach chairs right up to the shoreline and the off shoring/unloading of people by the watersports boats, jet skiis etc are likely also contributing since they are hammering away at the shoreline every time they “beach” themselves and every time they pull back and dig sand out to unlodge.
While boats have been landing on the beach for the 40 years I have been witnessing it , now you mentioned it as a possible factor of detrimental movement amongst other factors , I think it may need to be given further attention. It may have been overlooked as a contributor.
Let’s look at the changes that have happened over the decades.
Circa 1970’s to 1990:
Smaller boats, often just a single low horsepower outboard or inboard diesel powered boats. Landing bow to the beach to load and unload divers . Relatively low traffic during this time. The height of which was early 80’s with the beach properties being offered more pick up/ drop off .
The adoption of the flat-top pontoon boat with twin outboards late 70’s onwards. Used by many dive operators of the era. Still relatively low boat traffic though, overall.
1990 to 2000: Tourism on the increase. Jet skis and wave runner rentals. Large sailing catamarans , twin outboard or twin diesel powered sail boats that land on the beach ( with the engine running and propellers engaged to hold the bow). The arrival of larger horse power outboards in many boats.
2000 to date:
Tourism and beach use goes through a stratospheric rise in traffic.
Multiple large diesel and outboard driven sailing catamarans at all beach properties. Wave runner use increasing. The sheer number of boats running close to shore daily is now heavy is traffic. Divers still being picked up and dropped off , although scuba diver numbers have started to drop off .
The big question is how much beach erosion has been continually increasing in recent years by this boat traffic and use ? The beach wasn’t eroded in the 70s and 80’s. It also wasnt eroded in the 1990’s. Other than the odd storm or Norwester.
In the 70’s and all of the 1980’s we had very heavy winter norwesters that would take the sand , but then the sand would return.
Hurricane Allen in 1980( one of the Atlantic’s all time top 3 intensity storms ) took a lot of sand off the beach , but it was replaced in short order.
The same happened in 1988 with hurricane Gilbert. Even as recently as Ivan in 2004, areas of the beach had a lot of sand loss but it all re-deposited.
In conclusion, there has to be a factor of the current and recent years sand loss on 7 mile that goes beyond just sea wall and condo development .
Whoever calls for a ‘pause’ gets my vote!
Cayman has got to stop digging itself into the sea. It really is that simple.
Marriott Pool Deck and MT’s house gotta go.
You forgot the TI groyne
As should most of the politicians.
CPA, YOU ARE FIRED!
11:51 pm Why is everyone blaming the CPA??? First of all, the current CPA has NOT allowed one seaside setback variance on SMB.
Second, the properties that are falling into the sea now were built years ago, when the minimum setback was 75 ft from LOW WATER MARK and when the beach was deep. Not many of those were granted variances, but if they were, it wasn’t by the current CPA.
Third, thanks to the CPA/Planning Department at the time who saw the need to increase minimum setbacks and recommended to Government that the setbacks be increased. Low and behold Government passed revised Planning Regulations that require 130 ft from HIGH WATER MARK.
It is the DOE that is responsible for the damage! They are preventing the replenishment of the beach. If the owners were allowed to put sand back there would be no damage!
Dang, that’s damning. Which property owner has applied to put sand on the beach with their own money and been denied? That should be front page news.
If it were true.
“the current CPA”
How long have they been around exactly, 3.5yrs? Unless you are mentally challenged, the problems we are now facing everywhere in Cayman have been slowly building over the last 3 decades.
what about the new ‘beachfront’ resort next to the Wharf? It is now oceanfront….
There hasn’t been natural beach there in 50 years. Prove me wrong.
More than 20 years ago I used to regularly walk the entire length of SMB from WB. I had to get off well before the Wharf as it was mostly ironshore beach (look it up).
The CPA are obviously at odds with the NCC. They don’t want to follow the law or the science based advice. .multiple courts have now said that the CPA is wrong.
that is the same you can’t tell us anything we know what we are doing attitude that has existed for decades and got us in the mess we are in now!
And this mad excuse for a Government now wants to cripple the NCA on behalf of the CPA and these greedy developers!
All Caymanians need to take a stand and remind them who they really work for!
the CPA who were in place from the 80s till early 2000s already fired buddy. show me where current CPA have allowed any seawalls or setback variances along 7MB
6:04, The current CPA don’t have to worry about it as there is no more free space along SMB to develop but given the chance we all know that they would carry on given “the previous CPA did it so it must be ok”.
Their “rubber stamp nothing to see here folks” way of doing things is playing out all over the rest of the island with no regards for anything whatsoever other than the next developers sandpit.
Their mpotto should be
“No approval? No problem! We can sort that out later.”
Well said Kathy and don’t worry. Trolls are slow in the uptake, and mighty suspicious about anything new to them.
Yet Katherine The Great has done nothing to commence the removal of the groynes at Treasure Island so that the natural replenishment can begin in earnest.
The headline should of course read, “Minister ignores actual scientific evidence to the contrary and instead stakes her future on the word of one individual “.
Boy she’s smart to have figured this out on her own. “No $hit Sherlock” Wilksie is our saviour, but when will she recognise she’s in the hot seat and bloody well do something about it. Saying you’re gonna do something up on your election campaign podium is too late. Now get the F to it!
No dump deal,
Seven mile beach erosion,
Overcrowded roads,
ancient and unworkable public transport,
Uninsured and drunk drivers running amok,
Destruction of blue iguana habitat illegally,
virtually worst in the world for renewables as a percentage of total energy production (2.9%)
Gov’t doing a fine old job.
To add also that she voted for:
1. Dredging of the north sound for the Bodden’s family development
2. East/West arterial extension
3. Support of the Port’s relocation.
4. Support of CBrac $60m school
Waiting to see her vote for Issac digging up our turtle grass in EE.
Now get to know the new term for moving sand : “ Beach Nourishment “. As-per the Dart commissioned report story in his / the other local online media source.
Literally , being given advice to dump millions of $ into laying brought in sand onto the affected areas of 4.5 mile beach. Berksoy starting off the bidding with $3 Mil.
If anyone wants to see how the ocean can move sand, I urge them to view videos available on the effects of hurricane Milton this past month in Florida.
Yes, good idea. They have plenty more than they know what to do with.
https://apnews.com/article/milton-helene-hurricane-sand-florida-2906dfdc1027051547c4d49e934a838d
https://youtu.be/3w5WmU9u7cU
https://youtu.be/rw3aGEovcaM
Terribly misinformed drivel from someone who should know better.
“Begin the discussion” you say Katherine? Does that mean you’re ready? How about listening to the public past and present, intervening in SAGC Boards running amok, and/or combatting the rampant privater-public corruption flourishing under your own Cabinet’s regime. We are conditioned skeptics of faux sincerity. Best of luck retaining your seat Katherine, you’re going to need it.
She is genuine. The problem like you rightly pointed out is “the rampant private-public corruption flourishing under our own Cabinet’s regime.”
As one person, much less a woman, in the good ole boys club of those who have formed The Government, one has no chance to get their policies through if they don’t vote with them. 23/10/2024 at 6:58 am is right she may have just put another nail in her coffin just for speaking up.
The entire system is messed up and whether it’s her or the next person we put in they are going to face the same issues. Play ball or good-bye. She’s barely hanging by a thread now because she’s not a favorite among them. It’s easy to criticize form the outside. What would you do in her position? And careful – again, it’s easy to say something until you are put in the position.
The entire system needs to go.
Same minister that cancelled regen that would have solved an environmental disaster as well as reducing CO2.
lmfao you have to be a Dart employee to pretend Regen as presented was the right solution for the benefit of Cayman. They made the right call gutting that corrupt non-plan.
Yeah much better to just keep doing what we are doing. The dart solution made plenty of sense but nobody like dart.
after reading this i have even less confidence in the minister….
Ebanks-Wilks said:
* “Someone said to me yesterday that what we are facing on our beach is not about climate change; it’s about allowing developments to build too close to the ocean. I agree that we have allowed properties to build too close to the ocean,” she stated in her post.
* “If you look at pictures of Seven Mile Beach 20 years ago, you would have said that the setbacks were reasonable. However, from back then, our scientists were advising us differently. Back then, [the] Department of Environment was talking about global warming.”
I disagree with that person who said it’s not about Climate Change(s). The science warned us, and warned us many times. But only the almighty dollar was listened to, many developments were rubber stamped, damn be the environment and suggestions, requests to protect, spend more to preserve, use less land to adjust for environmental challenges and changes. Now we’re seeing the results of the poor decisions, with much blame to go around, many Caymanians and foreign developers are guilty of cheating to get their development down and sold out, all the while they were denouncing the cries and warnings of climate change and the warming of earth’s oceans/seas. Ignoring and hating on people at DoE and NCC because they brought scientific evidence about over development in areas that are Not sustainable in the long-term or are too fragile to play Russian roulette with. Well, the bullet found the chamber, trigger has been pulled and the damage has been done.
** For clarification on this comment;
“…Back then, [the] Department of Environment was talking about global warming.”
Here’s a summary of the difference between Global Warming and Climate Change:
A. “Global Warming refers only to the Earth’s rising surface temperature, while Climate Change includes warming and the “side effects” of warming — like melting glaciers, heavier rainstorms, or more frequent drought. Said another way, global warming is one symptom of the much larger problem of human-caused climate change. –
B. “Global Warming refers to the rise in global temperatures due mainly to the increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. “Climate change” refers to the increasing changes in the measures of climate over a long period of time – including precipitation, temperature, and wind patterns.”
“Anyone who believes in indefinite growth in anything physical, on a physically finite planet, is either mad or an economist.” – Kenneth Boulding
Well said Ironside.
I agree where you say “I disagree with that person who said it’s not about Climate Change(s).” However, we can’t ignore that added to the issue is building too close to the ocean. The Climate Change issues resulting in the rising sea levels is having a faster/greater effect because we have built too close to the ocean. Nature can’t do it’s thing of letting the coastline come and go when it’s smashing against a wall or building essentially preventing it from putting and taking the sand as it has done for years.
AND with all the issues were are facing on the west side of our island we are still seeing proposals for dredging. This completely blows my mind.
“Sustainability and Climate Resiliency Minister Katherine Ebanks-Wilks recognised that developers’ failure to heed science-based advice from the Department of Environment and the National Conservation Council has had a devastating impact on the Cayman Islands’ environment and economy.”
Do you hear that?? I think the penny has finally dropped! Too late, but they might actually finally be getting it?
well Wayne and Katherine get it. I wouldn’t say the rest of them do…
religion defies reason and rationality and is useful to pacify the people to keep them in line bye the combination of religious and political leaders. Knowledge is evil (read Genesis)
👍🏿
“Religion is regarded by the common people as true, by the wise as false, and by rulers as useful.” ~Seneca
Some developers have heeded setbacks. Fraser Wellon’s properties (Waters Edge, Watercolours, and the new Watermark) exemplify this.
The new Watermark building is set back almost 300 feet from the water, with the first occupiable floor and pools/deck area raised around 16 feet above sea level.
So if you have $10 million of loose change hanging around, buy a unit there 🙂
Damn, 12:53, like most of us Caymanians I can’t quite make that $10 million so I’ll have to just stay in my little unit in the eastern districts, surrounded by an ever increasing number of Jamaicans.
😄
Well, Fraser spends Clive Calder’s money very well and Clive makes very good investments back out of Fraser’s attention to details (for the most part, at least from my observations over the years tracking such things).
How does anybody come and go after the airport submerges?
They have to bring back seaplanes like the PBY Catalina that used to land in the Barcadere. Read about it here: https://www.barcadere.com/history-and-heritage-of-barcaderes
Clearly you have never seen Dr. Who or Back To The Future.
“Ebanks urged people to begin the discussion”
Umm, is that not her job? Why is she not doing anything?
She is trying to simultaneously blame the public, while courting their reelection votes. It’s unclear if she understands the nuance there.
The discussion began long, long ago. They thought we were a bunch of tree huggers. Many still do.
You still are.
Proof in point.
Yes, you are.
Technically, the developers are tree huggers since they love money, which is made of paper, which comes from trees.
There is strength in numbers. If she is the only one saying it then she is just one vote. If we the public also start insisting on something being done then they have to listen. If 500 people are demanding something from all constituencies that’s 500 votes at risk vs one Independent politician trying to do the right thing against a group that may not side with her – especially if she is up against proposals like cruise berthing facilities which on serves to make the Cruise industry richer. And once we have completely destroyed our beaches they will just find a new destination to target and drop us all together.
Is the tide turning? Peut-être…
Sea level has risen 3 inches in the past 20 years …
Cayman is less than 1ft above sea levels?
Greed is killing Cayman. These islands are being destroyed before our eyes. Caymanians need to show some backbone if they want their homeland to survive. Otherwise they’ll end up like the Hawaiians. Priced out and forced to move somewhere else.
from the person who walked away from the dump negotiations….and has no plan for anything.
worthless populist soundbites.
The dart dump deal was a good concept and idea, but was a bad deal and unaffordable for Govt
WTE was never the right solution, it was what was put out to tender however.
waffle…please give examples.
I’m sorry but there has been very little development on SMB in the last decade. What was the last one? Watercolors?
Has DOR been objecting with their advice for the last 30 years or is this new? Not being a jackass, I’m actually asking.
Because most of the properties having problems are nowhere near anything new.
Wait… where have you been this last 10 years?
Here, right friggin here. Watercolors was built when? About 2013/2014.
What else in the last decade has been built on the beach?
The big mansion the turkish guy owns. They started the watermark. They bulldozed lacovia.
What else? What am I missing?
And the question still stands: how long has DOE actually been saying this? It’s a legitimate question.
I heard them (DoE) with some of this stuff a while back when they were talking about climate change stuff. Looks like that was 2011. https://doe.ky/sustainable-development/climate-change-consultations/
So lets say at least 15 years (They had probably started before the final report.)
Does the minister understand that the majority of these developments were built in the 80s when they would have been set back 130ft at the time? What’s the ACTUAL plan since there are existing buildings and owners with legal rights? This sounds like a lot of waffle, no actual solution. If the solution is that the CIG will pay them all to knock down those developments or prevent them from protecting them then just say so- and let u know the costs associated with that. Nothing but talk- WHAT is a managed retreat and HOW will it be implemented???
It’s either managed by way of the proprietors or forced by nature. You choose.
The area of issue has developments that were built in the 80’s some 40 years ago and we have had zero renourishment of sand plan in place.
Imagine our airport built in 1980 and we did absolutely nothing to improve the runway…..
Simple solution … sand sand sand, yep you still gonna move up and down the beach but is the correct option.
Are you saying that no walls have been built since 1980
Was the Marriott Pool Deck built with a 130 foot set back from the actual high water mark?
What was the setback on MT’s house?
The public deserves to know.
Coral Caymanian seawall and cabana, the list goes on and on
Let’s hope so. If not, following the logic in the Compass, anyone who caused or significantly contributed to this problem by breaching our laws may owe Cayman a cool billion. If only Caymanians could see where that billion was, because I sure as hell do not feel like I was getting any meaningful share of it. Guess I won’t miss it then.
Managed retreat is being thrown around like the hottest thing since sliced bread yet nobody has actually explain wtf they mean by that
It means moving back from the current layout ie, places like marriott and royal palms would clean their debris and move their structures much further back. Some others that haven’t had the same kind of damage could probably do it as well, but it means moving your concrete back.
Ok, and HOW? What about the multi million dollar apartments which are at risk and were built with planning permission- are they going to be forced to tear them down- where are they going to “move back to” and who is going to pay for it?
Act of God. Look it up. Perhaps the Catholic Church or insurers should pay. Or you can pay yourself. Or developers looking forward to a new 10 story tower further back can pay.
The Caymanian people have no obligation to pay, nor should they.
They are paying right now and will continue to do so, eejit.
The Caymanian people are already paying dearly! There is no beach! No-one can walk on the beach. The government is not getting hundreds of millions in tax revenue! The tourists are not coming and are upset! The owners will pay for the sand gladly. All that needs to happen is for the DOE to stop destroying all the developments along the beach and the tourist economy by preventing it.
Oh look! The lesser spotted Caymanian sectarian!
You choose. Either spend some of your multi millions moving back, sell up, or don’t bother and let Mother Nature knock you down. You choose. Either way, the public do not want to pay for you to maintain your lavish life style, when we can barely afford our CUC bills let alone our own property.
Anyone with sense saw this coming 20 years ago. Anyone who has always used the beach knows. Anyone who bought in the last 20 years must be blind if they didn’t see this coming, but they put profit on real estate over planet and common sense, and the developers all rubbed their hands together and grinned.
Different topic I know but same goes for 17 greedy, arrogant, ignorant politicians.
Rubbish, the third choice is buy nice sand and put it there. WTF is the problem with that.
Ummm… hard structures on an active beach that will ensure any sand put there will quickly wash away?
That is one of the problems with that.
Why would you care if you’re not paying for it?