Dart starts clearance work on propsed road extension

| 15/12/2011

P1010305.JPG(CNS): Despite the speculation over the status of government’s proposed investment partnership and crown land swap with the islands’ biggest developer, Dart has revealed it is still going ahead and clearing the land for the Easterly Tibbetts highway extension. The developer said Wednesday that it had provided temporary work for as many as 30 unemployed Caymanians right before the holiday season. The temporary work involves clearing Dart owned land, in preparation for the northward extension of the road which is one of the alliance’s West Bay Corridor Projects.

The highway will be extended to Batabano Road and Reverend Blackman Road will be extended to become a connector between the Esterley Tibbetts and Willie Farrington Drive.

“The underlying objectivesof the alliance are to get people back to work, provide opportunities for local businesses and stimulate the economy – and this temporary work project most definitively puts people back to work,” Dart stated in a release

In the short term, the highway extension will provide employment for local businesses, contractors, truckers, labourers and heavy equipment operators, and these new jobs will collectively boost the economy, it added.

Dart said that in the long term, the extension will improve access between West Bay and George Town; significantly reduce traffic congestion on West Bay Road; and decrease the probability of damage to the road from storms , hurricanes and nor’westers.

The road is also needed as part of the investment alliance includes a land swap between government and dart including 2300 feet of the existing West bay road which will be closed to turn the property Dart has purchased in the area into a beach front resort.

There is however a considerable level of opposition to this element of the proposed deal and the movement to preserve the road handed a petition with some 4000 signatures opposing the move to the governor on Monday.

Government announced plans to enter into the partnership with the Dart group earlier this year but  the main agreement has not yet been signed. Since the announcement government has signed a financial framework agreement with the FCO that sets out certain requirements before government can enter into public-private partnerships and it is not clear how this will impact the proposed deal.

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  1. Sunlight Please says:

    I told you that Camana Bay was the cheese in the TRAP. I have to ask the Caymanian people are you better off now than in 1987. Kids shooting each other, Kida having babies, Murder, Drugs, how much more progress do you all want. Dont complain when the real killing and mayhem start. Will the last one to leave please turn out the light.

  2. Anonymous says:

    CASH IS KING. Done deal. What McKeewa wants McKeewa gets. I have to wonder about the Opposition not doing very much. Instead of not letting it happen they watch it happen. A proper Opposition should rally it's people and shout out loud. But the People will have to take metters and their own hands and there will be blood shed and McKweewa will blame the PPM and the people…. too late.

  3. Anonymous says:

    For Cayman Alliance, the words make me sick sometimes.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vulture_fund

  4. Chalice Way says:

    Save cayman group and West Bay Axe comittee and MLA Ezzard & supporters are  finished Dart WINS! both governments have put us in such a desperate financial situation they have no choice but to accept what has been offered Beggars cant be choosers plain and simple people. Now watch the UDP cronies and government minister connected companies gobble up any available work Dart decides to give them grovelling over crumbs!

    • Anonymous says:

      Better for the Counrty to be owned by Dart than China…At lease he's actually a part of Cayman..And shows he cares…

  5. Anonymous says:

    Great! Camana Bay is one of Cayman’s jewels. After spending a wonderful evening with guests tomthe island at the parade of lights, all I can say is Dart doesnthings right.

    Not everyone with wealth is an evil person. Judge Dart by his contributions and RESULTS.

  6. 24/7 Baya says:

    I know I not driving on no Dart road. Nex ting now they be chargin toll.

    • Anonymous says:

      Who cares where you drive….This is progress, like it or not….feel free to stay in your home while the world passes you by..

    • Anonymous says:

      Aw Dart is throwing 30 Caymanians some crumbs….isn't that nice of him

  7. Billy Bob Bung Bucket The Third says:

    What excatly are these "Save Cayman" groups trying to save us from? Jobs? A decent Economy? Future investment? Better Infastructure?

     

    Or their right to moan and bang on about a load of crap?

  8. Anonymous says:

    DART DOES….CIG TALKS

  9. Anonymous says:

    Looks like Dart is engaged in giving West Bay woters a little "hep" for Christmas.

    When you have a huge Deere excavator to clear land and scoop it into the back of a big pick-up there is really no need for 30 unskilled and unemployed labourers on the job.

    Dart could just give them the money in an envelope, but I guess that wouldn't be news.

  10. Anonymous says:

    Good that this work has started, those that are charging backward are not thinking of their childrens future. This will bring money and jobs to the island. There are people who are financially OK here and don't want or need change but all those who need work or some of the prosperity can be helped by this work.

  11. Anonymous says:

    It's called PROGRESS people, time to move out of the Dark Ages !!!

  12. Comment says:

    That some people want to keep a road that it cleary too close to the water, that spoils the beach, and that frequently ends up awash with sand – as opposed to creating a better road, improving the beach facilities, generating jobs and creating a more attractive trourist product that would protect other jobs – is truly incomprehensible.

  13. Anonymous says:

    How can you expect people to take your opinions seriously if you can't even spell correctly? I just don't understand. *Conveniently.

  14. Anonymous says:

    This Caymanian says "thank you DART." While our politicians, wannabe politicians and disruption groups sit around and argue with each other while our country dies a slow economical death, the DART group is doing what is necessary o protect all the investment they have made in these islands.

    I am not totally a DART supporter because it scares me about how much of Cayman he owns but he is one man that puts his money where his mouth is and gets things done.

    As a young Caymanian, I am so sick and tired of these people form another generation that think that we should revert back to something that they grew up with without the least thought that it was during their time that these islands grew the most and know theybalme everyone for everything. We are in a different era. We have to accept our circumstances and do something about. Sticking our head in the sand or marching up and down the streets likeidiots makes us just that, idiots. We are not grateful for anything and would rather suffer and let our children suffer rather than swallowing our pride and accept that some change and growth is necessary if our economy is to come around. I for one don't want to go back into any "ground" like my grandparents did to dig cassava and plant pumpkins.

    Again, thank you Mr. DART for stepping up. I have to tell you though you have patience because if I had your kind of money I would take my money and invest it in some country that would appreciate it.

  15. Mojo44 says:

    Our Grand Leader would not allow that he simple with stifle or strangle any opposition to his plans for the country, studies or not it is note wordy that no studies were made available by Dart or the UDP Government for both the Bodden Town dump or West Bay Road project which will have lasting effects or impacts on drainage and other environmental concerns in that area.

  16. Anonymous says:

    Is it legal to start clearing the land my mechanical means without planning permission?

    Or do the laws not apply to the Dart?

  17. Cayman Darling says:

    The PPM was conviently quite about this West Bay Road Dart situation and were also absent from the petition handing over to the Governor. The Save Cayman ladies and West Bay Action Committee and the 3000 persons who signed appear to be on their own on this one. It would appear that the rest have been bought and paid for.  The Save Cayman ladies aren't finished yet and are awaiting the studies for that area are made available to them and then the real fireworks will get started.

    • Just Sayin' says:

      No semi-intelligent person, let alone politician, would want to associate themselves with this Stop The Progress campaign.

    • Anonymous says:

      Simple the PPM does not want to verbally condemn a project that will have to support when take over next year…

  18. Anonymous says:

    Dart gets things done and done well.

     

    If he takes over Cayman, Cayman will be better off that the status quo.

  19. Anonymous says:

    Well done, lets get that started at least.