development
UPM Cabinet OKs destruction of critical marine habitat
(CNS) UPDATED: At a special meeting of the minority UPM Cabinet on 28 February, the five remaining ministers approved a coastal works permit to dredge 8,000 square feet of seagrass (turtle grass) on the edge of a marine protected area off Public Beach in East End, championed by Minister Isaac Rankine. The approval was given despite […]
Worker’s CI$8.5M+ housing block opens on Brac
(CNS): The outgoing UPM government has opened an accommodation block on Cayman Brac to house construction workers, including expatriates. What started as a CI$8.5 million project but is understood to have cost more, was officially opened last month by Premier and District Administration Minister Juliana O’Connor-Connolly.
PACT/UPM gave CI$12+ million waivers to hotel projects
(CNS): The development concession giveaways continued over the last administration, despite the opportunities the PACT and UPM coalition governments had to address a major concern for voters at the last election. More than CI$12 million in duty waivers was given away to three Seven Mile Beach luxury hotel and condo projects, even though they offered […]
Dredging has decimated regional coral reefs, says expert
(CNS): Renowned regional marine scientist Dr Tom Goreau has revealed the extent of the damage to marine environments all around the Carribean resulting from dredging for cruise berthing facilities and marinas or large ships stirring up sediment as they pull into docks. Speaking at the CPR rally on Tuesday, he said the massive amount of port […]
WB condo block faces hundreds of objections
(CNS): An application for a luxury condo development in the heart of West Bay has been met with dozens of official objections and widespread opposition throughout the district, documented on a petition with over 200 signatures. The CI$32 million project scheduled to be heard by the CPA today is for twelve apartments, 32 parking spaces, […]
CPA hearing airport expansion plan in campaign period
(CNS): On Wednesday, the Central Planning Authority will hear an application made by consultants representing the Cayman Islands Airport Authority to expand the apron at the end of the runway at the Owen Roberts International Airport, pushing it into an area of mangrove buffer and woodland. This application is a small slice of the plan […]
Activists worried over plan for NHDT homes in SS basin
(CNS): Local activist group Sustainable Cayman has raised concerns that plans to build affordable housing in the South Sound basin are being resurrected by the PPM as part of their policy platform. They said there is still no stormwater management plan in place and no indication that the revised National Development Plan will address the […]
George Town revamp too late for many businesses
(CNS): After years of dusty, disruptive roadworks, millions of dollars in public cash, numerous changes, delays, and the loss of several businesses, the George Town Revitalization Initiative is almost complete, according to a planning ministry release. As the end is in sight for the GTRI, which is effectively the partial repaving of three streets and […]
UPM sacks six NCC members, including experts
(CNS): The UPM has fired all of the appointed experts from the National Conservation Council in what appears to be a shocking act of revenge against the NCC members, who advocated against the government’s attempts to gut the National Conservation Act and successfully challenged errors by the Central Planning Authority in court several times.
More road works to come as GT revamp nears end
(CNS): As the George Town Revitalisation Project nears completion, officials from the planning ministry indicated that there is still more road work to be done. The phased reopening of Edward Street and Main Street began on Monday as the above-ground works concluded. But officials said in a press release that as part of the final […]
Ruling shows NCC needs power to challenge poor decisions
CNS): The Grand Court has again demonstrated why the National Conservation Council needs to retain its ability to challenge unlawful decisions made by government entities in relation to the National Conservation Act in the courts. On Wednesday, the court delivered its ruling in the judicial review brought by the NCC against a decision by the […]
