Barriers and signs to be erected at Pedro bluff
(CNS): The owners of the land in the Pedro cliffs area where the lives of two young men were claimed over the Christmas and New Year holidays have agreed that barriers and signs can be put up at the location in an effort to deter people from diving into the ocean. Police said Saturday that representatives of the RCIPS, the Port Authority the Tourism Attraction Board met Friday to discuss the issue of cliff jumping from the bluff with a view to finding solutions to prevent further deaths at the site. “The meeting was very productive and a number of ideas and possible solutions were discussed, including continuing public education about the dangers of jumping off at the site,” a police spokesperson said.
The property owner with the assistance of government has agreed to erect barriers, "No Trespassing Signs," as well as other signs warning people of the dangers of being on or near the edge of the cliffs.
This work will be carried out with the help of the public works department and the roads authority.
The decision to try and deter people from jumping comes after 16 year old Justin Henry and 21 year old Adam Rankine drowned after either jumping or falling from the cliffs during the vacation.
Justin was killed on the afternoon of Boxing Day (Monday 26 December) after he got into difficulty in the rough waters in the area and despite efforts firstly by his friend, and later the emergency services, to rescue him. The marine unit pulled Henry’s body out of the water the following morning. Then only days later on New Year’s Day (Sunday 1 January) Adam drowned a short time after jumping into the ocean. Although rescue services got to the scene shortly after the alarm was raised emergency personnel were unable to save him.
In the days following the tragic deaths teens were still spotted jumping in the area which has been a popular spot for ocean jumping over the years both among locals and visitors.
Category: Local News
I believe that if this site is killing a lot of the teenagers in the Cayman Islands that you should fence it to keep people away from, yes I understand that it has a beautiful view and so forth but think of the kids who have jumped off, your loved ones and the others who are thinking of trying it because they believe they have better luck then the previous kids who have already jumped. My opinion is to fence it off to keep them away and if you still want to use it as a site for tourist make sure there is supervision from a police or someone who can immediatly jump in after the accident.
21. The ultimate result of shielding men from the effects of folly is to fill the world with fools. — Herbert Spencer , English Philosopher (1820-1903)
This explains a lot toward why Cayman is the way it is.
I can picture it now… the beautiful Pedro cliff concealed with signs all over. If you're having a wedding I suggest you take your photos some place else.
Una listen, PEDRO CASTLE area is haunted, una try stay away from that place.. If you know what I know you would not go there in the day time,much less the night. Ghost Town.
Barriers and signs are all about liability, they are about covering ones rear end. Yes, it may deter a few but not the ones who are determined.
A platform or bouy anchored offshore, as suggested above, may help, especially if the area is monitored by CCTV.
Problem: persons dying due to cliff jumping and not able to make it back to top.
Solution: provide ladder(s) to help those partaking in such activities out of the water. (since we know that trying to prevent people is both an exercise in futility and not really a solution, but an attempt restrictive control, to which people usually rebel, and at prevention of what could be something positive for the country and tourism.)
Considering that commentary about this unofficial attraction/site/sport is on various travel sites and doubtless all over social media by now, the government, in conjunction with the land owners and a good corporate-citizen sponsor or two (& not DART for crying out loud; where are all the local successful business owners who make a mint amidst these shores: Bodden's, Dilbert's, Foster's, Kirkonnell's, Merren's, Scott's, Thompson's, etc…) should be able to agree to installing one or two ladders using rectangular aluminum or heavy-duty fiberglass composites, that will not get beaten up in stormy weather and will provide a safe exit route from the dangers that obviously exist. To bother with once again trying to control people, especially by limiting and restricting their ability to seek adventure and to enjoy the oft-avoided (and limited) thrills of life in the Cayman Islands, is just another disastrous, and old-guard-mentality styled failure in the making. We should stop the encouragement of continuing to force society into a state of control consent, often brought on through over-the-top if not excessive forms of state policing, but rather be trying to teach people what to do to survive such perils and offer the best solution for the problem.
Ladders, steps or buoys turn the place into an "attractive nuisance" (in the US at least) and could be the basis of landowner liability for dead teenagers.
'NO Tresspassing'? Now we start to have an answer.
One of the issues here has been that the police are powerless to intervene. I had not realised that this was private property. Surely this leaves it possible for kids there to be asked to leave and if they don't for them to be prosecuted. Lets make that step 1.
I think you might find that the edge of the cliff is public property much like that of our surrounding beaches.
(((smh)))
Still think they should put in a buoy for anyone in trouble to hang on to until help arrives. Kids will always jump – over the barriers, off the barriers, around the barriers… Most likely the barriers will cause more injuries than they prevent as kids will try to get around them to jump.
I marvel at the thought process….put up barriers along a beautiful bluff, one of the pristine beauties of Cayman. Is this really the best solution the Cayman Gov't "think tank" can produce???
Put in a buoy.
Unfortunately I disagree.
This is at least in part about the thrill. At some point every individual looks at the risks and juts says 'no way'. BY putting a buoy in what you will do is to bring more kids inot the 'way' population on a normal day and also make the mor reckless ones believe that they can get away with jumping in conditions even they would not take the risk in today.
There will be absolutely no sky diving, bungee jumping, base jumping,cliff jumping, zip lining, mountain climbing, jungle treks or anything else these other tourist destinations capitalise on to make their dollars.
Durrrrrrrrrr ………let's form a new government entity to do an impact study…send them up to the bluff in their loafers with their blackberrys so they can give us the expert take on the situation
here is a suggestion
anchor some buoys out there so that they can hold on to them until help arrives, or a shark.
What a joke, why don't the government come together and try to jump start the local economy or discuss ways of reducing the over a CI$billion plus public debt when you include public pension and healthcare liabilities.
What they should do is create jobs for locals and stop wasting time errecting fences that will not resolve any of our social problems.
Cliff's? Where are the cliffs? I would hardly call them cliffs.
Now Acapulco has some serious "cliffs"
Why don't we put in a mooring type life line or a set of stairs so people can get out.
You are never going to stop people jumping from the rocks. If they do at least they will have something to help them.
How high is high.
so these people that died .. they were definitley jumping of their own free will?
And even though it is very sad people have died there, putting up barriers is ridiculous. It will also ruin it and the barriers can't go on forever so people can always find a way.
We'll need to erect barriers all along SMB when a Nor'wester blows thru. Hire extra patrols to make sure no one breaks thru the barriers. Because you know they will try!
I don't understand why that utility pole that was struck 2x in one day last week hasn't been removed and for heavens sake we need to shut down the bypass or close off that entrance to Lakeside condos. Too many people being killed up in here.
Please protect us for we know not what we do!!
Let me guess, these barriers will cost $25mln and contract is already promised to somebody's cousin?
10:07 why dont you people find something good to say about anything. Good gracious what a miserable set of people. Bee nice for once nuh.
All dem signs and barriers will just take away the natural beauty of the site. I like to take picture… now I will have to them with a friggin sign in the way.
Barriers? Signs ok but you cant put barriers all the way along pedro. They will find another spot to jump that may be even more dangerous. Or from the top of the barriers.
Great. One less activity for us to enjoy in Cayman.
Thank you to all who ruined it, way to go.
I wonder if the authorities who are experts on the matter actually thought of consulting those who jump from the cliffon a regular basis and have no problems as they know when and when not to do it?
Probably not.
One of my best friends also has a memorial on the cliff where we all used to cliff jump together. NO he did not die from jumping off the cliff, it was one of his favourite spots on the island.
If they think they are going to stop me from going up there to "hang out" with him by erecting barriers and signs they have another thing coming.
RIP Josh Gilman.
People drive drunk and know this is illegal, do you think barriers and a few signs will stop people from cliff jumping? I don't think so
Another classic knee jerk reaction from Cayman authorities…. These barriers will not stop the jumpers! Who is going to sit there and enforce this? Let's be honest, we can barely keep the prisoners inside the barriers at the prison and we think a few unguarded barries are going to prevent the thrill seekers? What I suspect these barriers will do, is hinder emergency crews from getting to the next jumper who gets into trouble and then we will have another death on our hands…..maybe then the knee jerk reaction will be to pull the barriers down…. We have kids killing themselves with knives, guns and cars on a regular basis but no barriers or restrictions put in place with those incidents, and I am taliking about curfews,restrictions to night clubs or even, silly me, make the parents accountable. But then a few kids go outside have somegood clean fun, test their personal limits, not trying to bully others and we have this silly reaction. Not that I am taking away from the tragedy of the lives lost but this is a far healthier past time than the gangs and guns route. Educate the kids, dont restrict them to the point where they have no choice but to go behind parents backs to have their thrills. This is always going to end in disaster!
All this makes me want to jump now…. I wonder if I can fit over or under the barriers… Perhaps the signs will make a handy palce to hang my towel……………
Now for the government to be able to give out common sense just as fast as they do with "signs and barriers". That's all that's needed here in this situation. Common sense would tell you not to jump when it is not calm and weather does not permit it.
How about designating certain spots of the bluff to cliff jumping. Put a ladders or stairs down to the ocean at this spot. Make this spot as safe as possible and jumpers will be "lured" to jump from there. You cannot and should not block the whole area with barriers – that is quite unfair to the resposible cliff jumpers who partake in the thrilling sport. Be real!
The group of jumpers should to do a few things BEFORE they jump.
1) Form a club of jumpers.
2) Learn to do it properly, by understanding more about the current, wind, their technique or whatever else there is to know.
3) Have a paid medical professional as a part of their team/club. No, that does not mean 911. In my opinion the 911 professional responders should be reserved for serious things and NOT thrill seekers jumping off the cliff because they are bored with everything else. I believe most die very quickly, within seconds or a few minutes after they hit the water when things go wrong in that particular area.
4) The club should have their own boat already in the water with necessary emergencies supplies to pull people out of the water and the above mentioned medical professional to help save them if possible. Once again I do not mean the Marine Unit or 911.
5) Please be RESPONSIBLE and fill out both your health insurance and life insurance forms indicating you are a high risk person. That way they can charge you accordingly and not me.
In any other sport on TV, people are trained BEFORE the engage in high risk sports. The team also has a medic and reasonable supplies for their players/athletes. Imagine that, some intelligent people plan and walk away alive, only to return and enjoy the sport/activity another day.
Do it right or don’t do it at all. Stop depending on the tax payers of this country to send out a marine unit, a chopper and the RCIP because you failed to plan for your personal safety in a high risk activity.
For anyone who has to be rescued via 911, they should be fined an amount to cover the coast of the manpower and materials used in the rescue.
For those who die, they cost of the search and body retrieval should come out of any assets owned by that person before anything is handed over to surviving members of their family. Wake up People! Government can't afford to bail you out every time you make a poor decision, they have enough of their own to deal with.
So the CIG doesn't own this land? Who's the owner? How does that work if it is a National Historic Site? Is there a lease agreement, and/or how does that work?
The Pedro area, the Pedro bluffs, etc., is a (relatively) large area owned by several different people. Pedro Castle, the historic site, is owned by the Cayman Islands Government. However, while it is within the Pedro bluffs area it is not the full extent of the bluffs. If you go there and look left and right you'll notice its not even the highest cliff in the area. – Makes sense now?
Yes, thanks for the clarification!
So the beautiful view of pedro bluff will forever be distorted by signs and barriers because a few youngsters decided to use the spot for their fun and entertainment. This is just meaningless. I believe in educating the young and having more fun activites for them. Trust me, these same youngsters will find another thing to entertain them or destress themselves. This is Cayman, folks. We have no night life here. Just clubs and bars, and more clubs and more bars to keep them drug up.
I agree that we need more for the youth to do in Cayman. Some are bored and this is why they get up to mischief.
Everyone here is bored.
12:25 then buy a ticket
Bored or lazy? All they want to do is BBM all day and night. Make them go clean the island of all the garabge that is being thrown down. That will give them something to do.
How about setting a good example to the younger kids? Being a Big Brother or Big Sister. There are many things to do. They should be glad they don't have to get up at 5:00am every morning to catch fish to sell before going to school. Then they have to walk home every evening after school. They also lucky they don't have to go help with the farming and back water from the well. Just one of the many things that my father and I had to do as children.
Another lnee jerk reaction from the experts of over reaction. This will not stop those who know when to jump from these cliffs, i.e. calm weather, and those who think they know.
Once again, we are leaving it to the Government to look after our children. NOT GOING TO WORK.
My God, what next? soon we will all have to apply for permission to go to the beach when it is choppy.
just use yer grannie wit and dint go when its choppy!
The Tourism Attraction board agreed to Barriers one of our most scenic coastlines??? Really??? The TAB agreed to putting something out there on the beautiful coastline at Pedro St James?? really silly, stupid and a complete overreaction. I and many tourists, loved looking out over the rocks from Pedro St James but now I guess we will see a lovely PWD 12 foot chainlink fence! Very Caymankind statement.
I agree with the signs but NO to barriers. No matter how high these barriers are idiots will still get over them so its a totally useless idea. It certainly will look like Sh*t out there. Not very touristy at all. Who dreams up the stuff anyway??
TAB probably felt pressured after the hysterical reactions on this blog after the deaths. It’s always some one else’s fault, the government HAS to do something, the police are to blame, blah, blah blah. Early on people were demanding something be done. Now you don’t like the result. Sigh.
What was suggested has not been done and wont be done and there will be another death because of it.
Put a ladder against the cliff and a set of buoys 30yds off in the water, problem solved.
Put a barrier up with no trespassing signs and watch the lemmings line up to jump.
Good ol'Caymanian common sense at work again.
While my heart bleeds for the families of Justin and Adam and I pray God will bless and comfort them in their unimaginable grief I have to say that I am of the opinion that barriers are not the answer to prevent further deaths at these cliffs. Signs should be erected at all access points in the entire area that warn all persons of not only the dangers of the sea currents but also of the wave action that can push you under the rocks and suck you under the water as they wash back out. I think barriers will only be an eyesore at one of the only places left in Cayman where we have an accessible unspolied view and lets face it , if kids or adults want to they will get over, around, or under any barrier put in place there or anywhere else. Educating people to the dangers will be much more effective. For instance a short educational documentary could be made by professionals of course, showing how the waves and currents there cause such a hazzard and risk to anyone in those waters. This could be shown at schools and churches on a regular basis and as a preview at all movies at Hollywood Theatre in memory of the these two young men and would reach a wider cross section of the public to educate and hopefully deter others from trying the same thing. I also firmly believe that sincere and deep investigations into both of these deaths needs to be a priority to find out if either of these young men actually jumped in or if they were bullied and dared to jump or if they may have actually been pushed in or fell in by accident or maybe as difficult as it is to imagine they may have chosen to commit suicide there. Justin's family says he would never jump and was not with his normal group of friends that day. Adam knew of Justin's death days before so what would possess this intelligent young man to jump and risk meeting the same fate. As in other strange disappearances and deaths here in the past year, people need to come forward and tell what they know so that the investigations can be completed and the families can have some closure. Trying to close the cliffs is a futile exercise and will not prevent more people from willingly jumping or being bullied to death…..they will still do it there or they will simply find another place…..To the youth I ask of you….consider your own worth and that of others….Do not place a value on your life or anyone elses by what others think or say. Every life is a precious gift. Everyone is a child of God and has a special purpose….Don't give up on yourself …….He is always near even in your darkest hours.
Sorry to have to say this but erecting signs and barriers is a total waste of money.Try educating these young folks instead BUT bear in mind that (the signs)will only makethem want to do it more than ever.Its a bravado thing.Its like trying to stop people from speeding.My sympathys to the two family that lost their sons recently.They will only move further down or up the coast and continue to jump.
If your analogy with speeding is correct that means that we should remove all speed limit signs and radars from police cars. Bad logic.
actually there are case studies that show removing speed traps and cameras along with signs does not change anything. Or rather having the signs and cameras does not change anything.
Excellent news. The extra height provided by the barrier will add to the already awesome jumping experience. Thanks guys.
I hope it is high enough for bungee jumping
Bad idea. Are we going to build barriers along the top of every cliff on our coastline? Is the planning law going to be complied with? Education, and available safety equipment is the only answer.
On that entire stretch of coastline or just that parcel were they jump from? They will just move elsewhere in that area and take there chances which may be worse as they cliff are more staggered or hidden rock shelves.