Conservation will influence Cayman’s future
(CNS): Environment Minister Wayne Panton has said that the entire National Conservation Law will be fully in force before the end of this year, when the preservation of the Cayman Islands’ valuable environment will finally be given equal weight as social and economic considerations when it comes to future development. With 80% of the law now implemented, the remaining elements of the legislation will focus on environmental impact assessments and how conservation will take its rightful place at the table on decisions about the future shape of the islands.
The bulk of the NCL commenced on Earth Day, introducing formal and legal protection for many endemic and native flora and fauna. The Department of Environment is now working on examining the critical habitat on land owned by government that can be formally preserved. With enforcement officers given powers of arrest and a list of species protected, the remaining part of the new conservation regime is the position the environment will have when it comes to development.
Wayne Panton, Cayman Islands Environment Minister
From the routes of future public roads and other public infrastructure to private sector projects, environmental considerations will, once this part of the law is implemented, have the same weight as social and economic considerations when such decisions are made by Cabinet, the planning boards, the NRA and other bodies involved in development.
Environmental impact assessments will be required for major developments but the environment will also be part of the Central Planning Authority’s considerations for any decision about construction.
The minister spoke about the law striking a balance between the often conflicted positions of development for economic gain at the risk of the environment, which also has economic value. Speaking at a press briefing on the commencement of several more parts of the law Wednesday, Panton said the NCL was not about stopping development but ensuring it was sustainable.
Committing to ensuring that the remaining elements of the law will be in place well before the end of the year, Panton said the creation of regulations for the EIA regime were well underway. He spoke about the importance of the environment and the need to develop a much greater appreciation for conservation in the country as a whole, but the law, he said, was a good start.
“We recognize it is not in our interests to have a law that prevents economic growth or sustainable development,” Panton said. “Within three to five years it will be recognized that this is a law which reflects that necessary balance.”
The next meeting of the National Conservation Council will focus on the last parts of the law, including Part 7 to ensure that Cabinet can issue the commencement order before the year end, paving the way for the environment to become an equal consideration in the country’s future and no longer sacrificed without thought for economic gain.
Category: Land Habitat, Laws, Marine Environment, Politics, Science & Nature
I would urge people to listen to this ominous message. Nothing new here. This is basically UN Agenda 21 wrapped up as a conservation law. The ultimate losers will be land owners who will be unable to enjoy their property when government decides they want to protect some obscure insect or weed. These new officers should arrest the whole government for perpetrating the crime of the Mt. Trashmore.
It sounds grossly hypocritical to spout off about conservation and we have a serious lack of action in recycling and garbage disposal.
So will this law applied equally to all (if it will be applied at all) or does the first developer that comes along promising xyz amount of jobs for Caymanians get some exception?
When has the law been applied equally to all?
Unfortunately, Anonymous 3:07, I think the second option is more likely.
Not only will that developer given exceptions, he will also have to bag out some cash to who will open his door. No guess who that will be. its been like this for a long time. Take this authority and power from politicians and not one will run for office.
So long as Cabinet is allowed to pursue it’s own agenda by overruling the National Conservation Council, the NCL will have limited effect. Case in point, 10,000 cubic meters of dredging in North Sound was rubber stamped = 1000 dump trucks of construction fill are being excavated from crown seabed, with nary a whisper. Are they buying that fill from the crown? Moses is keen to proceed with the colossal dredging exercise in GT harbor of 626,000 cubic meters = that’s 62,600 dump trucks of construction material, permanent destruction of a marine park, and one of Cayman’s best snorkeling areas, turning it into an unsheltered blue water venue for massive town inundation at the first Nor’Wester. The ACC need to probe into potential conflicts with Cabinet and parties on the construction fill side. I’d be surprised if there aren’t already promises and arrangements being made for this submarine quarry material. Ditto the East End Port.
It looks like the fill from the current dredging is being piped directly to the vacant land West of Harbour House Marina
There are many quarries being dredged well below MSL. These are all quarry violations that nobody seems to want to comment on. The violators are actually rewarded for pressing on. Like so many things in Cayman, after 3 continuous years of unnoticed violation, it suddenly becomes a “grandfathered” activity. Outrageous!
Because the island is in a “NO enforcement” zone making more rules and laws sounds good but does nothing to solve today’s problems. Until Caymanian culture starts to except enforcment of laws as a way of life none of Caymans current problems will solved. But that’s just my opinion.
That be my thougt to.