Crossroads on development expressway

| 09/03/2021

Troy Leacock writes: We are at a crossroad. For at least 30 years we have been on the development expressway to 100,000 population — the path of secret concessions to developers, the path of building high and paving fast, the path of turbo-charged immigration and population growth. This path has brought us many positives: employment opportunities, improved services and more convenience.

But this path of “anything goes” development has also come with negative consequences. It has given us a trash mountain and traffic congestion. It has burdened us with a cost of living that is putting basics like decent housing out of reach of many. It has delivered loss of Caymanian identity, dilution of Caymanian culture and now, sadly, even destruction of our beaches.

So here we are. The pandemic and the election place us once again at a crossroad, a time in our history when we can consider our direction and our pace.

Do we continue full-speed, straight-ahead to build and populate every inch of our islands, or do we pause and consider how we can do more with what and who is already here?

Do we pause and make sure that every Caymanian is educated and empowered to share in the prosperity? Are we brave enough to consider a different path for the next 30 years, a gentler path of more sustainable living and a more equitable society — a fairer society?

Do we take control of our journey or do we hang on for dear life as the ride is controlled by others?

We are at a crossroad. We have options. We have choices. Where do we go from here?

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Category: Polls, Viewpoints & Analysis, Viewpoint & Analysis

Comments (3)

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  1. Anonymous says:

    From the guy who has wanted to reopen Cayman for tourist since last year.

    Kinda rich isn’t it.

  2. Anonymous says:

    I saw a rather realistic mock rendering of GCM in the year 2077 with over half a million people on island circulating on Facebook yesterday.

    Scary believable.. and it’s probably where our current trajectory is heading. 🙁 Whoever made it must have been sending a warning.

  3. Anonymous says:

    Crossroads would imply we have a choice.

    The reality is that we have no choice. Conflicted boards will approve anything and everything to line their own pockets at the expense of the country.

    For instance: we all know the two 20 story towers that will sit on the top of the two tunnels in front of camana bay were approved when the air parcel legislation was written into law years ago – why else would we have two tunnels there?

    We also know that Darts plan to build a canal entry to connect seven mile beah and the north sound at the kaboo site was approved years ago – why else would there be a bridge there?

    I mean you just had to walk down the canal sites by the kaboo site over the last year to see dart was already changing up the landscape in accordance with his plans – this long before a nod of approval was provided by anyone.

    These politicians and dart think we’re all idiots.

    Here’s hoping there’s a massive change in the political landscape this election. I’m sick of seeing the old, useless dinosaurs getting money for nothing and those cheques for free!!!

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