development
79% call for stamp duty increase in CNS straw poll
(CNS): The policy U-turn by Premier Juliana O’Connor-Connolly on a proposal to increase stamp duty in areas with a high concentration of luxury development, such as Seven Mile Beach, is not supported by the majority of CNS readers. According to the results of a straw poll posted here last week, 79% of those who took […]
DoE stresses problems with current coastal setbacks
(CNS): The Department of Environment has undertaken a review of properties damaged by last week’s powerful Nor’wester, which brought high seas and near galeforce winds. The damage to these coastal structures caused environmental, financial and personal loss, and the DoE has received footage and inquiries about the vulnerability of these properties. In many cases, when […]
Premier U-turns on luxury property duty increase
(CNS): Plans to increase stamp duty on luxury properties appear to have been dropped just a few weeks after it was suggested by Premier Julianna O’Connor-Connolly. The possibility of increasing stamp duty was raised in parliament in the UPM leader’s budget address in December, with the implication that the new government was considering raising the […]
Trust backs NCA as development outpaces conservation
(CNS): The National Trust for the Cayman Islands has hit out at those claiming development is being fettered by conservation legislation. The long-established non-profit organisation, which has a permanent seat on the National Conservation Council, has said that it is difficult, if not impossible, to see how the National Conservation Act is stopping development, given […]
Ministry seeks public help to shape housing policy
(CNS): UPDATED with consultant costs. An open public consultation has begun to help shape a much-needed policy to address the chronic shortage of affordable housing and other challenges in the local property market created by the ability of overseas residents to buy property here with no restriction or annual taxes.
DoE director continues to fight misinformation
(CNS): The director of the Department of Environment is continuing to correct misinformed critics of the DoE and the National Conservation Council who accuse them of delaying development. Gina Ebanks-Petrie has said, again, that the issues relating to planning delays are a result of the Central Planning Authority’s inaccurate interpretation of the National Conservation Law […]
Traffic to be diverted for downtown project
(CNS): New diversions will go into effect in Central George Town mid-morning on Tuesday as the National Roads Authority (NRA) begins the next stage of Phase 2 of the George Town Revitalisation Initiative’s Central Business District Enhancement Project (CBEP), according to a release from the infrastructure ministry. This stage of the works is expected to […]
Delays on EIA for Port Zeus due to developers
(CNS): Frank Schilling, the developer behind the proposed Port Zeus (Brac Marina Village), has incorrectly claimed that the Department of Environment was responsible for delays in producing an environmental impact assessment (EIA) for the project. However, the DoE explained Wednesday that the nine-month delay to the establishment of the project’s Environmental Assessment Board was due […]
DoE warns CIG and developers to stop building on beach
(CNS): The Cayman Islands Government wants to spend CI$250,000 installing parking and toilet facilities as well as cabanas and a concrete wall on a turtle nesting beach in East End that it acquired for public use. But the Department of Environment is warning all developers, especially the CIG, what will happen if they alter the […]
UPM mulls changes to conservation law as CPA and DoE face off
(CNS): The United People’s Movement caucus is understood to be planning changes to the National Conservation Act due to pressure from developers and others over false claims that the law, the National Conservation Council and the Department of Environment are stifling development. This comes after the Central Planning Authority has, once again, falsely claimed that […]
Housing Trust brings back lease-to-own option
(CNS): The National Housing Development Trust is introducing a series of new initiatives to increase the supply of affordable homes, given the challenges Caymanians now face in an over-inflated private housing market in which local people are competing with foreign billionaires looking for a sunshine home. The NHDT, which has been allocated $15 million over […]
