Cruise port causes ‘significant uncertainty’ for environment
The Cali Shipwreck and reef is located in 10 to 30 feet of water immediately adjacent to the base of the cruise ship landing and will be completely smothered by silt during dredging operations if the cruise berth goes ahead as planned (Photo by Courtney Platt)
(CNS): The damage to the Cayman Islands’ marine environment by the proposed cruise berthing development could be far worse than already suspected because of the “significant uncertainty” surrounding many aspects of the project, Department of Environment Director Gina Ebanks-Petrie has warned. Until the design is finalised and key geotechnical studies have been completed, it will be extremely difficult to understand the extent of the negative impact from a host of issues, such as the dredging method the developers will eventually employ and how pilings will be drilled.
Despite this uncertainty, the deal with the wining bidder could be signed and sealed long before the public has any real understanding of the actual devastation the project could cause.
Government has consistently stated that the project will be a design-build-finance model, and how that will look will depend greatly on the winning bidder. Until one of the final three bidders is selected and begins negotiations with the government, no one knows what the final design will be.
In the absence of any confirmation from Tourism Minister Moses Kirkconnell, the finalists appears to be a consortium of the cruise lines, McAlpine and Orion Marine under the name Verdent Isle; the controversial Beijing-based company, CHEC; and a French marine engineering company. The fourth final bidder, a local marine company and its New Zealand-based partners, pulled their bid.
The winning bidder will be responsible for updating the existing environmental impact assessment (EIA) as well as undertaking the outstanding technical geological seabed surveys. Speaking on Rooster’s morning radio show, Crosstalk, on Friday, Ebanks-Petrie explained the process of an application for a coastal works licence and the need for an updated EIA, as set out in the law.
But she said that at this point, there are still many unknowns, not least because of the limitations set on the original EIA and the incomplete information, but also because the design and dredging areas have changed. In addition to the extent of the direct dredging damage to the living coral in the harbour, much more damage could be caused by silt and sediment during and well after construction.
Ebanks-Petrie pointed out that without the geotechnical survey, which would help inform the developers about the underlying sea bed, it is impossible for them to know what to expect or the potential impact of the project.
She explained that even when her department is drilling on a very small scale to secure boat moorings, they constantly encounter crevices and fissures and often have to search around for an appropriate location to pour cement to anchor them. Given the size of this project (each pier could have more than 300 pilings) finding places to secure them would be a significant and possibly costly challenge for the engineers.
Uncertainties also surround the dredging because no one knows what method will be used. Ebanks-Petrie said that at this stage, her team has no idea how the developers intend to dredge or how they plan to dispose of the material.
What her department has been able to ascertain, in the absence of the current updated design plans, which inexplicably have not been given to the DoE, is that some eight acres of land will be reclaimed for the project, also creating sediment that was not accounted for in the original EIA. Some of the dredged material will be used for that reclamation, but no one knows yet where the rest of the dredged material will go, she said.
So far, there has been very little discussion about the wider impact on George Town in general and the continued tourism operations during construction, but it is clear that the amount of sediment and silt that will be generated during this massive engineering project will kill many acres of coral outside the footprint of the project. Despite plans to use silt screens, most marine experts warn that this has very limited value in protecting coral, which needs a great deal of sunlight to survive.
The Balboa Shipwreck and reef is located in 10 to 30 feet of water immediately in front of the cruise ship landing and will be completely removed by dredging operations if the cruise berth goes ahead as planned. Many consider the Balboa to be both the number one and number two of the top ten dive sites in Grand Cayman – night dive is #1, day dive is #2 (Photo by Courtney Platt)
Ebanks-Petrie reminded listeners about the worldwide pressures on coral reefs. Cayman’s foresight in implementing marine conservation areas decades ago helped to protect a considerable amount of coral in local waters compared to other destinations in the region, but the marine life here is still under threat. With coral bleaching, disease, coastal development and over-fishing, coral reefs remain under extreme pressure.
She said another reason why we have to be extremely careful about the pressures we put on the reef systems that we can control is because corals are vulnerable around the globe from myriad challenges we cannot control. The extent of the loss of reefs in the George Town Harbour, even in the best case scenario, will be enormous. The proposed project, no matter what the final design is, will be devastating to the harbour, which, despite the false claims made by some, is teaming with marine life.
From famous ancient reef system that provide the spawning grounds for dwarf herring (fires) to the beautiful coral formations on the wreck of the Balboa, the loss of living coral and wrecks will be significant. But it has emerged recently that the proposed broad re-design that formed the initial concept design for the bidding process was not the most environmental choice, despite claims by government.
The ministry’s decision to remove the DoE from the steering committee, just as the bid moves into the final stages and when there has been so little information about the true extent of the reef damage, is another issue that is continuing to fuel broad concerns in the community. As the public becomes increasingly aware what is at stake, the environmental loss is beginning to feature more prominently in the opposition to the project.
CNS has learned that representatives from the procurement office have had one meeting recently with the DoE in which the technical experts from the department sought to learn more about the re-design. But it appears that Cayman’s own marine environment experts are as much in the dark as the wider public regarding the impact that this project will have on George Town Harbour — one of the most unique marine environments not just in our region, but in the world.
To sign the petition calling for a people-initiated referendum, call 327 5411 to have the petition come to you, email cprcayman@gmail.com or visit the Facebook page.
This weekend the petition will be available to sign at Hurley’s Supermarket, Book-Nook at the Galleria Plaza, Bliss Yoga, Pure Art, Rubis in Savannah, Sunset House and many other locations.
Category: Marine Environment, Science & Nature
So when I go to visit Cayman, where am I supposed to dive now? There hasn’t been much to see over the years anyway. There isn’t much in terms of large wildlife.
The water temperature is great and visibility is more often than not perfect. But….am I really going to come down with my family to see nothing or better yet, the bottom of a cruise ship?
Cayman has always been more expensive than the other islands. But we have friends there and like to visit them. However, I think it is now time to make new friends in the other Caribbean islands.
I don’t know if it’s encouraging or worrying that the government actually allowed the DOE to appear on Crosstalk. Are they finally interested in transparency or are they so confident that the project will go forward that they feel it doesn’t matter if the DOE shares the alarming facts (and lack of information that they’ve been given) with the public?
This government is bereft of any real leadership or ideas for the future of the country. The stale idea of a cruise ship berthing facility is close to 20 years old. I remember going to the public meeting with Chuckie where the guarantee of lost cruise ship passengers was assured without the big dock. The warning has been proven false but the government still hold on to the stale idea driven by a few self serving businesses and Moses.
I would much rather see the energy put to the dump, the garbage pick up, the schools, trade school option, and bringing the Caymanians who have missed the nation’s prosperity along into the future. The dock will do none of this.
The single fact that DOE has been removed from the steering committee is the most telling act of this government. They obviously KNOW the damage that will be done to the reef is unacceptable to the people of the Cayman Islands and are trying to hide that fact.
Much of the damage expected is detailed in the cautionary notes by Baird in original EIA. It is publicly available and everyone should understand what proceeding irreversibly towards suspended “reef and sponge suffocating particulate” would mean for our world-famous and top-ranked marine ecosystems and biodiversity – not just in the inner GT harbour, but the very popular South Church Street and West Wall dive locations, and possibly curling around to South Sound elkhorn dives during every regular Nor’wester season (which often last weeks). Dredging would be ongoing as part of certifying depth for visiting ships – no mention or provision has been made for this in any budget or EIA I’ve seen.
@2:28 True but too bad the original EIA’s are now void because the design, according to the CIG, has been changed and now those EIA need to be redone.
The fundamental absurdity of this is the diversion of focus. ‘Bigger ships and more cruise numbers’. Please take a moment and google ‘what is Grand Cayman famous for, Grand Cayman top attraction’. Overall Seven Mile Beach whilst not always top at different websites is consistent enough to be considered the top attraction as will observed by potential visitors researching ‘Our Beloved Isle Cayman’. Guess what, SMB is no longer realistically available as a destination for a cruise ship visitor. These idiot politicians want to bring more ships here but the top attraction is off limits, think about the absurdity of that. If these blinkered fools in power were to be honest they would also reveal that the cruise lines greatest concern is exactly this, their guests do not have available the ability for their guests to visit one of the top beaches we are known for as has before been voted ‘Top Beach in the World. The reality of what CIG is looking to do here would be no different than SNCF spending in order of $200m to increase capacity from Charles de Gaulle airport to the Eiffel Tower and then promptly put a a two mile perimeter fence around it, – incredible, fundamentals and priorities and the complete lack of observance of them..
What is sad is that you are all blinkered fools because access to SMB is now owned and controlled by the all mighty elephant in the room or should we say the Govt. House, Mr. Dart
@7:38 – you raise a key point in this. Those who do not want the port but say that we can just survive off of stayover tourism forget that Dart already owns the major hotels and is closing off beach access more and more. All that hotel-room part of the stayover spend – goes to Dart and to the Westin and the Marriott. This money does not stay here and don’t say that Caymanians have opps in the hotels. Not one Caymanian managers from the Beach Suites got hired at the Kimpton when it opened. Not one.
Calicos has to move up to barkers, where, while beautiful, is not the nice sandy swimming experience that guests expect. SMB is pretty much out of site for most locals – you can’t go anywhere to get a drink under $15.
Things that Caymanians need to take care of and soon.
1. The port project. Strike it down once and for all.
2. CIG. Vote out those that supported the dock in any form or fashion or were not active in stopping it.
3. Dart. This would be dictator needs to go.
4. The continued selling of this island from under our feet by expats AND locals.
The only reason there could be any haste to this project, is that someone else is dictating the tempo, dangling some blindingly enticing carrot. The boats that this port would be designed to theoretically serve don’t yet exist in sufficient quantity to present any material threat to cruise tourism industry in the Cayman Islands. I count one ship: Oasis of the Seas, at best, <6000 that pass us by every second Thursday during next high season. The other purpose-built boats of this size on order are destined for Eastern Caribbean, Europe and Pacific regions. There just isn't a REASON to advance this versus the assured cost and damage. Telling lies about the end of cruise tourism is patently false.
Haste? Can you tell us what would be an appropriate time line for a project like this and compare that to the pace the project has progressed so far and what is left to do?
But think of the watches that will be sold by businesses owned by the Tourism Minister’s family. Visitors can wear lovely watches when they go diving to see where there used to be a coral reef.
Tell us about the people who stand to benefit from not developing the port. Tell us about the tender owners. Tell us about Cathy Church who got up at the Ministry’s Port meeting and wrapped up by asking if we are going to pay her for her loss of revenue. Yes, she might love the environment but her concluding point was also very telling. Pro-port people are not the only ones with money on the mind.
No one ever claimed that they were. Fortunately, one can be motivated by more than one thing, and one of the main points being made is that the environment is a BIG moneymaker for the islands.
How Ironic.
When the Balboa (or one of those boats) was being sunk we were told it was also going to cause the end of the World as we know it.
I am not for or against the Port. But when obvious families that own the little boats and along the coastline to the south make an objection on the grounds of
“environmental protection” We all can be curious.
This is the reason why people can come to this Little Island and take over so easily.
One group is always against the other while the Cayman People can see right through it.
In Cayman, it will always be about who gets something out of it that will determine how a deal is made.
We sure as heck do not have anyone that knows how to make a deal around here.
There should have been a protest to all the mangrove damage that was being done to create the Dart Bypass. A lot of fill and other material was used to destroy that area of the environment. Environmentalist people benefited from that deal so it was ok to destroy.
But that World ending bypass did not cause the end as we know, so let’s keep moving on. Surely we will turn over the right stone in Cayman to cause the end to be.
By the way. Did anybody notice the resemblance of the Norman Manley Airport to the new project ORIA in Cayman?. Things that can make one say hmmmm.
WHAT???????
The only “uncertainty” is being uncertain how much less damage the current plan does compared to any other prolosed. This is the best it’s going to get.
Concerned annual visitor , I’ve been coming there yearly since 1980 and have seen reef quality ,less fish life and destruction due to cruise visitors stupidity in the waters of George Town especially Eden Rock area .
Don’t build the pier they will destroy the purpose people come there after it’s gone they will leave and your left with the bill and a dead harbor clear out the greedy politicians and put responsible people on office to protect your island , ( My thoughts )
Stephen Pounds
Thanks for your input, Stephen. I wish more visiting divers would help us stop the insanity.
Caymanian Diver , NO you don’t need visiting divers to help stop the insanity . All is needed is 5 to 6 thousands registered CAYMANIAN VOTERS to sign petition for the referendum , and the insanity would-be stopped forever .
Thanks, Stephen. I wish more visitors would post their thoughts here.
Well said Stephen Pounds. If our politicians really cared about the island, the environment and the people, they would heed comments like yours.
Alas, they do not care about any of the above except perhaps when they can line their already-full pockets.
This recent crop of politicians have been so vindictive toward their own people and so destructive to their God-given heritage, that if any of them are re-elected, it would be the tipping point.
I would call upon the many decent God-fearing children of the soil to vote these traitors out at the earliest opportunity.
May I also say that during my many years here in the wonderful and blessed Cayman Islands that there are so many of you that I know and respect who can change things if you really want.
You do not need law degrees, a lifetime of working in finance or Daddy’s money. You just need to love your country, your people and your God, (the one that you declare founded it upon the seas).
There are so many good and honest Caymanians that should consider running at the next election. You will have the support of the majority.
You may feel overwhelmed and insignificant, but remember God does not call the equipped, He equips the called.
Please, decent Caymanians who read this post, please disseminate my request to those you know to be endowed with integrity.
Rise up and throw these destroyers down. Fill our house with righteousness.
Thank you.
Why does politics have to revolve around fulfilling the wants of a particular religious group than the needs of our entire physical country?
Separate church and government
Mr. Shibli , I completely agree with you and your comment , what you have said I think that every other Caymanian should do , say it like you mean it and don’t hold back on nothing like you have done , and use your name like you did , then these disrespectful politicians would notice the People of Cayman islands .
Again I would say that Caymanians better wake up and STOP these politicians from wasting another dollar on building that pier , because if you don’t worse days are ahead for you and your great grandchildren .
The GT harbour has been dying since before the eighties. The piers will reduce the loss of coral reefs. Anyone that can’t see that is not snorkelling or diving.
@3:29 “The piers will reduce the loss of coral reefs.” Just like amputation stops gangrene right? How about instead of amputation we try anti-biotics and heal whats there before removing it.
@Stephen Pounds
I’ve been visiting all three Cayman Islands since I got certified at the old Seaview Hotel in March 1992. I agree that the whole area has been steadily going downhill rapidly. In fact, having gone on to become an instructor and having had the opportunity to dive all over the world, I’d now seriously question whether Grand Cayman can still claim to offer ‘world class’ diving. It’s undemanding tourist diving but quality-wise I’d now rate it as mediocre. The only people who seem to rate it any higher are those who have never been anywhere else and those who make a lot of money touting the island as a great dive destination. Bluntly, the damage has already been done by over-development and over-exploitation. It’s sad but that’s what you get when money rules. I’ve seen exactly the same happen in other places, particularly in the Red Sea off the Sinai where whole areas that I remember as completely unspoilt are now just trashed wasteland. It’s a horrible thing to say but it might actually be a better to sell out to the cruise lines because the days of Grand Cayman (and I should stress that doesn’t apply to the Sister Islands) being a highly sought after dive destination are limited.
I agree with your sentiments Mr. Pounds.
Unfortunately, the above is not always a strong enough argument to motivate leaders to change course.
The threat (external factor out of our control) is that the island may lose some long time, loyal visitors, who have sustained the islands for years. However, they will be replaced by visitors, 2nd and 3rd home owners, who know no different. They arrive, see a big dock, experience the remaining reef and marine life, and shrug their shoulders at the crowded beaches and roads because they only know it this way, or it is ‘still nicer than the last island they visited’.
So though the comment has merit, I believe the powers at be likely know that they ‘will win some, and lose some’ with any new plan, and can still sleep at night because of that.
My vote is NO for the new dock but yes for an improved cargo handling facility.
Stephen Pounds – I respectfully ask – as a visitor, where do you get your information that our Government is corrupt? That is quite an accusation and it is wholly wrong. It is my opinion, as a Caymanian, that we have a government that has done a damn good job at keeping our economy ticking along over the last few years, with steady increases in GDP, has dramatically decreased our debt to levels enviable by the US, the UK and most other ‘developed’ nations and has reduced unemployment to less than 5%.
This coalition government has been doing a good job – in fact, it could be said that they are doing too good of a job, which is why we are in this situation. If times were tough and more people were unemployed right now – the fight would be very different. This is what the anti-port group is missing – what happens when the cruise industry starts to die – how are we going to replace that money in our economy and find jobs for those people who lost them. What happens to our crime levels when people don’t have jobs? will you still come then?
And all because people want to dive in our commercial harbour?
@3:26 – I respectfully ask – as a person who can read, where did you see he said they were corrupt? He said greedy, the two do not always mean the same.
* SIGN THE PETITION * for a Referendum
#Haveyoursay
Bunch of dictator BS going on here in the Cayman Islands. Kim Jong Un would be proud of this violation of human rights. Better get your revolution kits ready.
My revolution kit is ready, a Cayman flag without a “$” where the stars are to wave, a V mask and a satchel of rotten fruit.
Chris Saunders regarding the cruise port: “We don’t want another John Gray [school construction project], we don’t want another mess like we have at the airport, or another situation where we can’t get the garbage picked up.”
What a critic. Chris and Ezzard seem to be against progress.
Actually mindless PPM supporter, what we rational and logical citizens are against is the piss poor management of successive governments when it comes to capital projects
They are almost always poorly planned, late and end up costing the Caymanian people more than they are worth
Especially when they purposefully misrepresent the truth and then sit foreigners on a stage to talk down to us and threaten us if we don’t give into their demands
Palm Tree , then aren’t those projects a good reference to the government’s inabilities to do any project .
No, Mr.Tree. Chris and Ezzard are against spending $300,000,000+ and having our undersea wonderland destroyed just to enrich a chosen few!
Seems fairly sensible comment to me. Can you explain how the John Gray High school contract disaster, the airport expansion running over budget, or a complete inability to pick up garbage once a week when a few years ago we got twice weekly on time collection = progress?
BTW you seemed to missed the other Chris Sauders quote, citing an industry report by Business Research and Economic Advisors which shows that, of the US$115 average spend by cruise ship passengers in Cayman, spending on watches and jewelry eclipsed all other spending.
“That’s what this is about – watches and jewelry,” he said. That seems about right too – or do you think the need to expand the sale of watches and jewellry is progress?
Or the government’s own National Tourism Plan:
“The Cayman Islands are being promoted as an exclusive, luxurious destination and many of the accommodation providers are delivering on this promise. These efforts are undermined when large numbers of cruise ship passengers visit the beach areas of these properties and overcrowd the attractions.”
Guess in your view they are against progress as well.
@palm tree
You seem to be confusing destruction with progress.
Name one capital project that was done, right, on time and within a budget.
You can start with parking meters at the airport.
CIG must refocus its enthusiasm entirely on the Dump. Since waste to energy plant must never be built, unless your stupidity has no limits, and you must start thinking what you are going do with the Dump and the future solid waste disposal.
Don’t allow your government to spend one $ on WtE project. They already wasted millions on the piers project that would never materialize. Unless self-destruction is your goal.
Why don’t the two of them just go off to get something to eat and leave things to the true leaders we have. They are only seeking power for themselves.
So what this is all fake news and more anti port propaganda. Honorable Premier just get CHEC and Decco going on it. We do not need to waste time with more bids or anything else. Our country needs this built right now! If Honorable Bush had stayed in power all this would have already been completed and we would be flush with jobs and cash.
BUILD OUR DOCK NOW!
Also look at all the extra revenue once CHEC can get the Chinese Navy to set up a port here as well.
You said a mouthful there. Unfortunately, most people these days are so very busy being asleep.
Those Chinese have caused havoc wherever they go and if they have a foothold here when Trump and his people allow WW3 to kick off, we are going to be in trouble.
We are expecting the shit to hit the fan when China moves against Taiwan.
No to China and no to the Chinese government. If they can massacre their own people in cold blood, (Tiananmen Square) they won’t give a rat’s ass about sorting you out.
Yet these are the corrupt people our government is courting. Time for a change of government.
Stop pushing the people around.
The Chinese have given there word to Honorable Bush that everything will work out great
Oh God, now I’m really worried!!
Is it time for the “build the dock” trolls now? Buzz off, 6:39 troll!
6:39, are you some kind of nut? Or maybe just another troll.
Funny that, no mention of Decco above, but everyone appears to be convinced that they are getting this deal. In fact, employees of Dart companies have remarked to me that the port is going ahead in the past and that Dart are going to make it going to happen. Strange when the bidding is yet to be decided – or not?
Yes CHEC & Decco are teamed up. It is a done deal, we do not need to waste anymore time so Unity team get them going. The complainers can just sit and watch!
And Bush could have paid for it on his credit card and got miles.
You employ CHEC and the Auditor General will have a lifetimes work.
Sorry to put a pin in your bubble, but I need to remind you that you only have one vote on this issue. Our country does not need all the problems that comes with building the dock in George Town. Since you seem to be on the premier’s and honourable bush’s bandwagon please ask them if they are willing to destroy George Town, seven mile beach and all the environs just to prove a point.
Yawn. I’m tired. Are you tired? You sound abnormally wound up. I think a nap might be in order.
Q Q Q Q!
Interesting point. I am hopeful that the things alluded to in the qanon posts are real, but I have my doubts.
Q tells us to be patient, but nothing happens. We lost McCain, but we don’t really know how.
Yes, I know the politician on the CNN newscast said (accidentally?) that he had been put to death, but we simply don’t know.
If there are such things as sealed indictments, then they should be executed as soon as possible.
All we really want is a clean, honest government, so we can live peaceful and prosperous lives.
It never ceases to amaze me how everyone is jumping on the CHEC bandwagon. That is the same relationship like Brother Jones and his flock, they flock all praised him even when they were knowingly drinking the poisoned kool-aid. If you want the port built that is your right to opinion but for god sake not CHEC. I don’t want the port because of 2 things mainly, the environmental damage and CHEC. Research CHEC, spend 5 minutes and research CHEC. Again if you want the port then support it till the cows come home but anyone else that CHEC.
Oh btw, if the “Honorable” Bush had stayed in power, the FCO would have been camping out on the steps of the LA building already.
Mr.Dart,could you please build the dock in Red Bay for us? We know it will be built well and managed properly if you do it.The Airport terminal is a good example..what a disgrace.Every one would probably agree we do need a dock but not too many trust this bunch with such a major project.
Build a dock in red bay? Where? How about Spotts if they want anything. But I still say no to any dock.
Are you trying to be funny? You want a thief to do your dirty work?
Strange post.
I notice the personal attacks on business men and those who want the Piers built, by the “NoPorters”. I also notice that the “NoPorters” all have their bread buttered on both sides. Some are feeding in the “Government Trough” others have secure positions from Mom/Dad whatever. They don’t give a hoot for those who work in the industry who don’t have cushy jobs to feed their family.
Really? This “NoPorter” has no bread buttered on the other side and has worked in retail in GT for over 15 years. I’m also not going to make personal attacks about other’s beliefs, but that’s all that opinions are at the moment because we have no solid facts. For anyone to be so hell bent on building a dock without knowing for a fact how those 8 acres of additional land will be used, how long disruption in GT will continue, what effect it will have on our visitors during the construction period and how that may affect their longer term view of Cayman and desire to come back and how the piers would affect the tourism product along the beach (sand movement, silt etc) none of us should have our minds made up (and I’m not going into the environmental issues as your comment is purely about how our bread is buttered) – it could be as negative as it could be positive. That’s why we all need more factual information from CIG, who must know more as they are currently staking their reputations on it (I’m assuming this is why they are so happy to push forwards). As far as I can see the call for a referendum is as much about calling for all of us to be fully educated about what we may be getting ourselves into. Once we all know what the Government (and especially Austen, who has been convinced so fast) knows then there should be no reason for the port not to go ahead.
Mr. it, you are really full of “it”! I don’t have that buttered bread, nor do I feed at the trough you mention, but I do enjoy my job diving and am getting along fairly well with my salary, plus tips. I don’t want to see that all taken away by the money grubbers destroying the diving industry to get richer. The stay overs, divers and non-divers, are what breathes life into the Cayman Islands, NOT the cruising trinket buyers.
Are you seriously still suggesting with all the information currently available and which is NOT positive regarding building this Port that ALL of US CAYMANIANS should undertake a 200M$+ project to increase some taxi fees for 300 people?
Are you really that selfish???
I dont work for govt. I dont have no bread buttered on any side that i dont work 12 hours a day to butter myself and i didnt get anything from mommy and daddy. So please keep those chips on your shoulder out of this serious debate.
Oh. Is that what you notice? Thank you for that.
Troll.
Yes and that uncertainty should be resolved by the people. Support the referendum, get the facts. They can change the Procurement Law if they have to to give more information and make the changes apply to current projects. I really don’t care what the consequences are for their precious back-room deals with nebulous foreign conglomerates and consortia. I for one am not letting them do this over our heads.
A special thank you to all of the caring and patriotic business owners with the stones to host these petitions. Very much appreciated by those that aspire for passable levels of accountability and transparency.
A geologic survey hasn’t been ordered to see if the deep water pylon construction layout will actually work. Do we wait until the $200mln pier collapses to find out that the rock is as cavernous and brittle as the original EIA warned? We aren’t drilling into granite here. The whole idea is as idiotic and half-baked as every other project this regime attempts (and fail to finish on budget, schedule, or at all). All so we can accommodate another 6000 people every second Thursday during high season (aka day 5 of Oasis of the Seas itinerary – the ONLY boat of Moses description for next ten years). There is no demonstrable credible threat to our record-setting cruise industry, except perhaps, normalization of the eastern Caribbean ports next season.
8:43 I think it is obvious that those in the CIG who are for the port are only looking towards their past, present and future monetary gains.
Perhaps they will owe back the perks already given because their ‘promises’ that they will have no issues obtaining permission to build will not come to fruition; the major slack they are receiving by blindly foraging ahead, dismissing any obvious and logical reasons why there are major concerns which they refuse to answer, are outright scary.
Statements recently made by Mac and Alden make them sound very desperate to push this ridiculous Port Project through. Why???
The huge trucks/equipment alone will make the lovely capital, Georgetown and its Harbor, a turn off for Cruisers and stay-over guests for years or forever. Yes, monies will run out.
Bringing them to Dart properties I cannot see as a viable option. What does Dart offer Culturally, Historically, Locally in his Concrete Jungles? Shopping and expensive Restaurants?
Shopping? Duty-Free Ports are not a big draw anymore for the Cruising Industry. Internet shopping gives the best prices and free shipping on just about anything.
Ships are floating Resorts. Intrigue passengers to explore the island. Why should shopping have anything to do with pro-port objectives when all the nature, unique or not to Grand Cayman, is where the money is. Ask the foreign business owners. They are making a killing. And not necessarily on the up and up. Why should they worry? No one checks on them.
Yes let it.
No news here. Please buid the piers.
I have been giving the entire referendum/build the piers/ do not build the piers some serious thought recently. I went ahead and signed the petition in favour of the referendum but after listening to the veracity of the Premier and deputy premier and also listening to so many who are quite knowledgeable on such matters I am now wondering why would the Premier and deputy premier throw caution to the wind like they are doing. Ms. Gina’s comments sent chills down my spine when I realise how careless the government are treating the serious matter. Why can’t anyone get through their thick dumb skulls so thst they can understand thst George Town is not the place for these piers. Are they really that callus and far removed from the harmfull effects of building the piers in George Town. You know anyone who really care about Cayman and it’s people would take a step back and seriously look at an alternate location. If Red Bay is a better location why won’t they consider it? Would they really prefer to go ahead and build the piers in George Town, destroy every living thing
If the Chinese are involved, then they will need a deep water port to land their vessels.
The Chinese insist on running security in any port they build (sorry for giving you inconvenient facts) .
Shoddy cuddly toys, electronics, subpar food and sweatshop bullshit today, mean and nasty soldiers tomorrow.
No to this insanity. China is plenty big enough for the Chinese.
I am sure it is a beautiful country (albeit ruled by wicked politicians) , but it really needs to focus on its own problems.
I doubt the sincerity of any business operating as a front for the Communist Chinese government.
People, grow some balls, for God’s sake. Stop falling for bullshit.
Honorable Bush said it is ok!
Building in Red Bay would cause more environmental damage/destruction. – I’m not saying Red Bay or George Town is better, unless your only criteria is the amount of living things destroyed, in which case GT is the better option (less living things destroyed). There is no way to build a Port without destroying some living things. – Again, not saying if worth the destruction or not.
Red Bay (even Spotts) is relatively undeveloped on the marine side compared to GT harbour. In addition to the ‘shallow reef’ which RB/GT/Spotts all have (and which will be destroyed by any port) Red Bay (and less so Spotts) still has relatively healthy ‘deep reefs’ whereas GT has lost all of theirs to anchoring over the decades already. (The anchoring in Spotts stopped a few years ago and was always less than in GT so there’s still alive-but-damaged deep reef out there.) You also have the ‘coastal habitats’ in Red Bay (or Spotts) – the fringing reef and stuff in the cove there at Spotts or the top of South Sound where Red Bay, or the life along the iron shore at Spotts or Prospect Point (Red Bay) is that will be removed if we build a port there. In GT most of that has already been lost with the current Port so expanding will have less effect. (Especially expanding outward, i.e., into the water, which is mostly what the plans seem to show. but even if it goes ‘side-wards’ along the still existing iron-shore that’s going to be less relative loss than having to build a full-width port on a coast with ‘no’ development.)
No news here. I’m too lazy and void of anything to say really. But please do whatever I say cuz, you know, ‘no news here’