BT protest signs stolen
(CNS): More than two dozen signs that had been erected in gardens, yards and private property in Bodden Town protesting government's proposed plan to relocate Grand Cayman's landfill to the district have disappeared. The Coalition to Keep Bodden Town Dump Free said it had reported the theft of the signs, which occurred some time yesterday evening, to Constables Forbes and Davis at Bodden Town police station and are demanding a full investigation. Members described the theft as an attack on democracy and called on the UDP administration to condemn the theft. An investigation is now underway into the theft, police confirmed
“We vehemently condemn this malicious action perpetrated against opponents of the Government/Dart plan to relocate the George Town dump to Bodden Town,” said Alain Beiner, a coalition leader. “The Coalition signs were systematically removed and taken away. This is an attack against our democratic right of expression. We also call on government and Dart to condemn this theft, to disassociate themselves from this action, and to appeal to their supporters to respect our right to disagree.”
Gregg Anderson, another Coalition leader, said the theft violates the right to free speech and peaceful dissension as well as private property rights as well.
“Our signs were posted on our supporters’ property, as is their right,” he said. “Producing our yard signs is a costly effort, and this theft is a serious blow to our very modest financial resources. We rely completely on the generous donations of our hard working supporters, and this is money robbed from their pockets. We don’t have the financial resources of the Government/Dart PR machine, but this attack against our campaign will not shut us up.”
The coalition is encouraging each affected supporter to contact the police to complete the coalition’s report, while it orders new yard signs to replace each and every stolen one.
The campaigners will also be launching a fund drive to recoup the cost of the signs, and is appealing for help to all those opposed to the senseless relocation of the dump to Bodden Town.
“The problem of Mount Trashmore can be solved where it is, with no need to contaminate a new site, and with no need to turn a residential/agricultural area into one for heavy industrial use,” Anderson added as he pointed to the wide support for the option selected by the Central Tenders Committee, favoured by independent engineers, and adopted by the government before its “inexplicable about-face” on the idea of a waste-to-energy facility, proper management of the GT dump, and a concerted recycling programme at the current site.
“This is also the conclusion of the 2008 APEC Engineering study commissioned by government,” he said.
The Coalition to Keep BT Dump Free is a non-political, single issue community organization open to everyone, regardless of political affiliation. It supports no political party, and condemns equally past and present governments for neglecting their responsibility in regards to proper management of the George Town landfill and the elimination of Mount Trashmore.
Category: Crime
18:45 you DONT live in our area and your land and house will not devalue ours will…
wow…nimbyism explained!….. but not backed up by any evidence
Will moving the dump effect the employment of all the George Town workers currently working in GT?? Just wondering if we will have another 100 people out of work….
Sign or no Sign, it looks like the dump is going to happen, people! Why? Because Cayman has lost its morality somewhere! XXXX Cayman is not the place like it use to be. Once we were an island that took no brides, people thought about other people and what could effect our neighbors, now if a man comes to a Caymanian with 4 million dollars for his property, that Caymanian collects, and probably leaves the island and worries no more what happens to his people. For the love of money! Dart nor the UDP is selling us out… It is we who are selling our ourselves!!! And sadly, it is argued over and over again, I hear it from my own people, who wouldn't grab the million dollars bait for a better way of life??? People, tears run down my face when I think how we are so easily sold out! Remember there is always such a thing called karma! If you can't put your neighbor first and love your neighbor, then those same monies you made off of disregarding your neighbor, becomes your curse. Jesus could have gain the whole world, but he gain mansions in heaven when he looked out for others. XXXX money is not everything! XXXX Cayman, please don't sell your island out, please don't sell your souls to a man? Yes, the gold may glitter, but you are your brother's keeper!
They've been moved to WB. I saw one stuck near the side of the road near a street sign, on my way in today. Not on anyones property.
Oh the sorrow! This is wrong! I'm going to start a petition for a referendum to stop sign stealing! And I"m going to go to the UK to complain to the FCO! I'm starting a collection for my business class airfare. Who will contribute?
Did anyone check the BT dump for them?
Buy some little cameras and install somewhere to capture the paid thief that is removing the signs.
They can be prosecuted for stealing.
Someone is paying them to do this.
The payor and the payee must be prosecuted.
This is not surprising, this kind of misbehavior begins at the top. Wasn't it the two UDP members from BT that were elected illegally? What else do you expect from their constituents?
Does anybody else see the irony in the message from an organization purporting to campaign against creating a waste management facility, promoting it's cause by producing signs that litter the area they say they are trying to protect?
The Irony of the messages from the organisation is that these signs are there for a short time but the dump will be from generation to generation. So protect our beautiful Bodden Town before we all create a Mount Everest, It is a fact that our population is increasing with no end in sight. Just look at the road sides one minute after it is cleaned by the Environmental Health Department – Something needs to be done with this problem – How about some good fines???
kids will be kids, nothing more than a bunch of michevious kiddos
Anyone checked the dump?
I think I saw them in that storage shed behind the LA building.
Maybe someone wanting to show property in the area. Signs about a dump moving there is a bad image.
Regardless, it is still a violation of private property rights.
Maybe the Cayman Pal signs will be next!
Phase 1 – Remove signs placed by political opponets.
Phase 2 – Offer political opponets a job building the dump in their own backyard.
Phase 3 – Replace signs with photos of our leader dressed like Mao.
Phase 4 – Distract the public with a new pie-in-the-sky pipe-dream…
Maybe one of the big boys has them on the wall of his man cave
They should have just as much luck finding these thieves as they do finding the other thieves running around the island. If they cab find people who go round mugging folks how the H(&*& do you think thyey will find the people who did this..
It's most likely someone from right in the area. Or maybe they this is just all to draw more attention to thier cuase….
Maybe they will find the signs in the GT Dump…
I'm willing to bet that some poor BODDEN TOWNER got PAID to remove those signs.
Yeah, probably one of those that roam up and down Bodden Town Road at all hours of the night which the police do nothing to contain or confront and should be off the street that time of night. Like the guy with his unkempt appearance that walks up and down, with his big belly hanging out, from BT to Ocean Club for all the tourists to see – who is mentally impaired but the government does nothing about – which is just short of public abuse. There should be a facility built (jobs anyone?) for people like this however, again, the government does nothing and the problem is getting out of hand.
Driving through the area at the weekend, these signs were an eyesore.
Imagine if they put a DUMP there.
If you think the signs are an eyesore just think what an eyesore the dump will be if they move it to BT.
nimby cliche….they are NOT moving the dump to boddentown!
my advice to the bodden towners…. start being truthful…you will get more respect and achieve more
I call a spade a spade and a dump a dump
Well if the new facility they are moving to BT is not a dump why doesn't it remain at the current site?
Your passionate concern for the preservation of the natural beauty of Bodden Town is heart rending.
The natural beauty and traquility of Bodden Town is long gone, we already have too many trucks parked in residential areas, and does not allow people to enjoy their homes, so that will also add to another disaster of Bodden Town – People needs to have their rest with comfort in the mornings and not listening to the Many trucks parked in yards, and causing so much noise. The dump will also add to our many woes – it is time government look into the situation of all the noise in these residential areas from 5am that is not a way of living for our Caymanians or residents.
Their rhetoric was becoming tiresome in any case.
Don’t Dump On G.T!
Are you living in Bodden Town? We don't want the dump in BT, let them clean up the present dump and use the 30 acres to complete the sorting stations and other things that have to be done. The signs were no hurt to anyone, only sending the message the government dosen't want to read or hear.
Dingy hands are always stretched to do damage.
The dump is already in George Town andit is GT and SMB that produces most of the garbage in any event. Why contaminate two sites?
It always seems that when people don't have an answer they resort to malice.Probably those that want the dump moved to BT can't think of a good reason why it should be moved from GT figure this is the only way to "help" their cause .