Road activists turn to courts
(CNS): Four of the women who are part of a wider campaign to keep the West Bay Road open have turned to the courts in an effort to stop the imminent closure of the road they say has been in use for over 100 years. Using the bill of rights and the constitution to make their case, they also claim that the governor, the attorney general, the minister with responsibility for roads and the National Roads Authority will breach a number of laws including the National Roads Law, the Crown Lands Law and the recent amendments to the Public Management and Finance Law if they continue with the proposed plan to close over 4,200 feet of the highway running parallel to Seven Mile Beach between Governor’s Way and Yacht Drive.
Alice Mae Coe, Annie Multon, Ezmie Smith and Betty Ebanks filed the writ on behalf of a mixed group of activists that are opposed to all, or elements of, the government’s proposed deal with the Dart Group, known as the ForCayman Investment Alliance.
The suit was filed in the Grand Court on Monday and deals with what is known as the NRA agreement, a controversial deal signed by the NRA, the former UDP government and the Dart Group in December 2011, part of which includes the closure of the West Bay Road to facilitate the development of a new resort on the former site of the Courtyard Marriott.
The women are taking the action under Part 1 of the Cayman Islands Constitution which is the Bill of Rights. Section 26 of the bill states that anyone can apply to the Grand Court if they believe government has breached or threatened their rights and freedoms and allow the courts to make a determination.
In the 22 page document the women point to a number of issues they believe make the NRA agreement unlawful and are seeking a declaration from the court on their various claims with the hope of putting a stop to a closure, which, according to comments made by the premier last week, could happen by Thursday of this week.
The ultimate goal is for some 4,250 feet to be closed to vehicles in the coming weeks as more of the Esterley Tibbetts Highway Extension is completed by Dart, but government is hoping to close over 1,000 feet running past the public beach by the end of this week to facilitate a planned upgrade to the beach before Easter.
The women have filed a statement of claim that covers a wide number of issues, from what they describe as the failure of the governor to follow the requirements of the Crown Lands Law, the easement rights regarding the West Bay Road, which has been in use as a public thoroughfare for more than 100 years, the failure of government to demonstrate value for money, the secrecy surrounding the deal, the efforts by Cabinet to circumvent proper lawful processes and, they claim, the illegality of the NRA being able to even sign to the deal in the first place.
The plaintiffs claim that under section 19 of the Constitution “the first defendant, third defendant and fourth defendants have not acted lawfully, have acted irrationally and have not be procedurally fair in agreeing to” the road closure and giving the land to Dart and “have abdicated their statutory and constitutional duty in doing so”.
The women say they are seeking declarations from the courts to this effect and a declaration that the agreement as a stand-alone contract is flawed and beyond the powers of those involved to make. The plaintiffs also claim that the first defendant has breached section 18 and 31 of the Constitution and seek declaration to that effect as well.
The document also discusses the cultural loss to the community, given the historical significance of the road and the fact that it remains the only stretch of Seven Mile Beach that still provides a view and access to the famous beauty spot.
The women state that all of them have used the road for more than fifty years and that it is common knowledge that the West Bay road has been in use as a right of way for the people of West Bay and others to the rest of Grand Cayman and vice versa for over 100, years starting with horses and donkeys in the 19th century, without interruption until the present day. They say they are bringing the proceedings on the basis that the agreement and the way it is being implemented is unconstitutional for a numberof reasons. The women point to the fact that the country’s parliament, and by inference the people of the Cayman Islands, have never been fully informed of the details of the agreement to close the road and have it absorbed as part of Darts beach front property.
They say that value for money has not been demonstrated to the public nor has an independent review of the agreement been published publicly, despite being completed many months ago. All of this, they say, contradicts the requirements of the framework agreement that Cayman signed with the UK and is now in the Public Management and Finance Law but they also state the secrecy about the deal is unconstitutional.
Category: Politics
Wow unbelievable. Let me play the devil's advocate. Let say Mr. So and so bought a 500 acre piece of property like what Dart did. Mckeeva went around the world to find investors to get revenue for cayman let's say he found someone who wanted to do a development that would put in a town on west bay road. Lets say 2-3 hotels plus condos shopping something similar to caymana bay for the town. A lot more traffic at least 3 thousand more vehicles using west bay road okay.
Shouldn't the gov't build another road? Its around a town. Speed limits will have to be no more then 25 mph. More pedestrians will be crossing the road to get to the beach more parties more bars more music etc. The Gov't has 2 more DUI accidents and the people died ok? Don't we need to build a different road? So that people from the district of west bay can get to town for work or ambulance , fire trucks? Shouldn't Gov't build the road? they invited the investor here .They show them they could make money (that's important to investors) .Surely we are responsible for infastructure (roads, water, elect., sewerage, more hospital more, schools, etc).
Then if we are suppose to do it why then Mr so and so do it? He must be a bad person spending his money when we suppose to do that. No other development on this island has done it. Not even a Caymanian developer.
Maybe he's a stupid and uncaring idiot? He's taking our responsibility from us.
Sheesh let start a petition and get people to pay him back for that pretty road . I heard its only 40 million CI dollars. Come on people all together now woop woop !! Lets take responsibility for our own road!!!!!!
Your scenario is wishful thinking, its not what is going on here. Comparing apples and almonds – no comparison. Dart is building one hotel on the site of a former hotel. Where is the new town? Not building a new Town. Courtyard Marriott was a hotel that failed due to mismanagement by the owners. being across the road from the beach can work. dart duped everybody starting with the promise of jobs and economic stimulus during the recession. 2011? Nada. 2012 ? un poquito. built a road through their own land? immediate, substantial increase in value of their own land by more than what it cost to build the road. Maybe govt would have to eventually build the road but spending 25million shouldn’t have been priority número UNO.
Is the writ public, and if so where can it be found?
So pathetic.
Driving down a road is heritage?
Let's do a give and take – Keep eating turtles and close the road.
Though, the act of turtling would actually be the cultural heritage.
Sigh.
I see by your choices that you are not an envirentalist.
What the heck is a envirentalist ? Is that someone that Envy's what other people have and hate on them for it? If so then there's plenty of those in Cayman..As well as the rest of the world..
I just really don't see how Dart is supposed to be to blame for all of this happening. I don't see our own government doing as much to improve Cayman and stimulate the economy as this man is doing. Sure, people are complaining about the fact that he's buying up the island, but who is really to blame for that – the person buying or the people selling?
When I was young, a friend of my dad took a dollar from me on a bet about a card trick. No contest, I blame him.
As usual people love to complain, especially based on tittle tattle and no fact. Some cannot see past the end of their noses that this could actually benefit Cayman. One thing is clear, the PWC report must have more or less given it the green light, which is why the FCO is not commenting on it or even bothering to get involved. FCO have stuck their nose into other deals where they saw something clearly wrong.
Cayman, this is going to be an improvement. In a years time, I suspect you will all be thinking "why did we not do this earlier and where can we do it next?"
If I was coming here on vacation, I would choose a beach front hotel with no busy road in front of it every time…and it is tourism that will put dollars in your pocket. And if I cannot find such place, I would go somewhere that has that..
Mr. Dart, can you please explain to us ignorant natives why a man of your financial status must come to our tiny, recently corruption riddled island to rob us of our birthright with all your precious heart?
I will answer it for him. It is simply becuase you ran it into the ground and you are doing nothing to save it, then put it up for sale to the highest bidder..
You are a bitter person. You may go home now.
I am home on the Land that I paid for, are you…?
Apparently that is why you had to leave your country to come here.
Sorry, wrong answer bozo,
What most people seem to no understand are those self serving individuals who are using this road closing issue to enflame voters for their own political spring board to elbow their way to the LA trough.
Make the people who want to be voted into the LA speak to the nation's problems and offer up solutions other than, "reopen the road".
There are really serious problems facing the country and manipulating voters by speaking of nationalizing the beaches for public use is a red herring.
Voters must want more of their politicians than a nice guy. Get rid of the political dinosaurs who have had their chance and get some fresh ideas into the LA.
Road wider? Maybe I am wrong, but driving along the “new” road last week, it looke to me that extra lanes are added for the diversion, which should mean that the flow of traffic is uninterrupted, or minimally so… The new park areas look as though they will enhance the area, and there are footpaths andcycle paths to admire the view. No cars in that area means less pollution and less chance of accident to humans and wildlife. It seems that if the plans had been made public sooner then there would have been a more balanced debate? Maybe what will come out of this is an argument supporting transparency and open government?
I dont understand why the road was not design like Miami beach. You can drive, see the beach from your vehicle and everyone will be happy. It is so sad to see what our island has become for the sake of a dollar. Hello I dont remember hearing anyone being breadedwith a bag of money. Have you?
Do it Miami Beach/South beach style…
The precedent for building on the beach side was already set donkey years. Everyone and thier Aunty has built on the beach. And now because Dart wants to build on the beach to be competive with the other hotel, everyone is up in arms and saying it isnt right, unlawful, taking away birthrights and culture etc ad nauseum. People are using this non-issue as a political football, first and foremost, that cannot be denied.
Atleast Dart has the decency to give something back. No other hotel or dveloper or private entity has given anything close to 1% of what Dart has done for Cayman and that is the truth.
I read with disgust to all the writers who wish for the road to close. The only thing comes to mind is that they don’t understand the brevarty of the precedence we are starting by bending over and allowing the UDP, Dart, PPM and C4C stick it to our forefathers and the younger generations coming up. Allow me to give you a scenario: dart owns majority of the liquor stores, the majority of the duty free shops, the majority of property, majority of politicians, a school, hotels and now his own electric company. Now lets play a game of monopoly, what happens when the one who owns the most utilities and properties, they can set the stage for prices, employment and so on. So the asses that believe Dart is doing all of this for charity and for the love of country they better wake up and come off Dart’s money train. As soon as the work is done what will the Mario’s and the Kerry’s do? The money will all come to an end and soon enough you will be paying the huge price for jumping on the band wagon of 4 cayman alliance. This is just one scenario……soon enough supermarkets, petrol stations, hospitals, banks, etc….will all be owned by mr. Dart so give him the road and the beach now and see what happens next.
These ladies are courageous and should get all the blessings for standing up to this man and to our elected government. I ask if they didn’t do it, do you think our government would have?
Kato, I am in agreement with you. Some will say this will not happen.
I hope they are right. But it makes sense to make sure it doesn't. Most jurisdictions have anti-trust laws to assure that this type of monopoly does not happen. We need to be considering that not how much more we let Dart control.
You clearly don’t understand antitrust laws. Antitrust laws involve selling your products or services below your average cost such that you put your competitors out of business. How does tat concept apply to tus development?
"Antitrust laws prohibit agreements in restraint of trade, monopolization and attempted monopolization, anticompetitive mergers and tie-in schemes, and, in some circumstances, price discrimination in the sale of commodities."
You stand corrected.
Only a fool would think dart is doing this for charity and I don’t see where they ever claimed so, Dart is a development company not a group of philanthropists. The only reason they own so much is because it was all for sale.. Ask the Caymanian people that put it for sale why so much of the island is owned by Dart
Because they wanted the money..
And lets see what happens when he gets fed up on all the complaing and moves out to somewhere that will let him do better for the island. What will happen when all of those duty free shops, liquor shops, school, hotel & electric company shut down – what will happen to all those Caymanians that work in those etablishments. Where will all the Caymanians who are in the construction business work….
I'm not saying that I am in agreement with all the duty consessions that he is getting, he should pay just like everyone else, but he doesn't do a bad just with what he is doing.
They would be hired by Caymanians who would move back into those industries ….. just as it was before Dart came and Caymanians owned the businesses.
Remember before Dart came, Caymanians were smart enough to create twice as many jobs on this Island than there were Caymanians to fill …….. hence the work permit system had to be introduced and 25,000 work permits issued.
The number of jobs is not the problem in Cayman. There are 45,000 jobs available in the Cayman Islands at this time and 20,000 native Caymanians in the work force. It never was before Dart came and will not be when he leaves (as he will one day). It is a FACT that Dart/Camana Bay only provide about 350 jobs on Island, and we already have 25,000 more than we have bodies to fil and have to import people and issue work permits for.
Stop trying to scare people into thinking that WHEN Dart goes, everything will go to hell in a handbasket. Caymanians built and operated these busnesses before Dart arrived and bought them up. Caymanians will have an oppurtunity to do this again WHEN Dart leaves our shore. It is a fact that Dart/Camana Bay have brought NO new nor innovate way to provide jobs, they only capatilise on areas of employment that were already established on Island.
If that is the case why is it that so many Expats work for Caymanians. Every Caymanian business I go into is full of expats.. Alos please name one industry that was ran by Caymanians in the past that is now run by Dart. ?
Please stop trying to scare people with your idiotic analysis. You have nothing by your own paranoid delusions to back your claims.
If you’re so sophisticated, you needn’t speak to the above person like such a boorish ass. Thank you.
The activists don’t want you to take the time to educate yourself on the benefits to all parties involved in this deal.
Nothing in it for me, so I'm against it.
Wanted a job, but didn't get one, so I'm on a personal vendetta against Dart.
Just say'in
What's in it for you, my friend, and for every decent, hard working citizen of this country that MUST pay duties on everything we import, is the forty million dollars in duty concessions that our beloved gowerment somehow managed to give to poor Mr. Dart, plus the millions he has been given in room taxes forever, plus a chunk of the most valuable crown property we have in exchange for MR. DART"S privelige of doing business in our country. I would very much like for somebody, for anybody, to please tell me what on earth is there in that "FOR CAYMAN".
Funny how these idiots actually thinks they are giving dart all this money as it a dime would be made by him for them to share in without all his development..
Idiots do not thinks, my friend, neither do ones like you think. They also show their respect for dart by spelling his name with a 'd'. And then they proceed to make the remainder of their post completely inintelligible. Shut up and go learn to read and write.
In my humble opinion, this is about a precedent being set. Just remember what 7Mile Beach and West Bay Road looked like before the permission was granted to errect the first 5 (or 7?) story building? Now everything is a mini highrise and the strip looks like any other overdeveloped main strip in any other tropical country .
If we are now closing the road for Mr. Dart and his development, will we have to accept future swap arrangements with other super wealthy developers who also want to close the road in front of their development? I mean what is good for one should be good for everyone right?
Change is not always for the better and I really don't see how this creates long term jobs for Caymanians anyway. There will be a few selected ones who will be lining their pockets during the building process and that will be it!
Mr. Dart has recently purchased more Condos in close proximity to the beach and is generally buying up anything and everything that is availablve for sale. If people would have any idea the amount of property he owns throughout the Island, their head would spin!
Stupidly enough, in Cayman, everything is always for sale to whomever.
Ladies, you enjoy your gin and tonics whilst the rest of us try to find work, raise our children. Glad you can sit back and waste the time and money of our Court systems. I’m not a fan of Dart – but you show me ONE Caymanian developer that’s investing in Cayman?!
This is too funy! Cayman is more developed than ever before but we are struggling! The Ritz has been built, but it is struggling! So why do you believe that more development will automatically equate to an uplift in the Cayman economy? You may have a job for 6 months, but thinkg about what you are giving away FOREVER!
The 4 brave ladies are doing more than the PPM and all the new candidates combined to stop the UDP nonsense by bringing to lightthe inequities of this deal and force us to really question good governance, transparency and accountability means to those elected to serve us
Brave…? Tell that to people trying to get to work, or mothers trying to get their kids to school and back on a safe road without the hassle of the crowded West bay road…
Backward villagers stifling progress….nothing brave about that.
Check out Dart's takeover of tourism in Belize to see what will happen next.
In order to satisfy the protester, I would like to bring forward a motion to relocate the road on the beach itself. That way, they will be able to enjoy this beach and look at it as much as they want while in their car. Because really, what is a better idea…to have a large waterfront area with parks for all to enjoy or to have a road with a great view of the ocean? Really people, let’s think about this and do our best to leave as much asphalt as we can as close to the waterfront as we can.
Close the G D road already!
Damn fools!!!
He might be a damn fool, but he is the lone haranger, and he's above you.
It's amazing that from the volumes of possible offenses against the people in the years of the oppressive former regime, this minor road re-routing is the one item that actually got people riled up enough to actually go to court. Free pass for everything else I guess!
The view and access are not going anywhere. The only losers in this deal are those selfish messy campers that enjoy wheeling in their full-size kitchen appliances and leave tons of waste and garbage behind after holiday long weekends. I'vecleaned up after them myself. Making a mess of public areas is not a legacy we should be fighting for. You can still use the beach, you just have to park your car in the lot and walk over like everybody else does.
You miss the point entirely. Multiple accesses to the beach will not be accessible when the road is closed.
Really? Get off your fat butt and park your car and then walk on the beach (and new park).
Maybe this weekend's nor'wester will assist with the closing and show just how sensible this road move is…
Lissen, Woodja Shaddup, the f'n road is still there after 100 years of nor'westers.
You are one totally confused individual. It was always the plan to have TWO roads in to WB and TWO roads out of WB. It doesn't matter how many "lanes" the new road has. Do you (finally) get it?
I don't know the ladies in question, but I believe that they are so concerned at how their precious country has been sold out by greedy people and as such, I support them. It must be frightening for a people who have lived simply and happily for many years to get railroaded by a bunch of foreigners who only care about their pockets.
Listen up fellow expats, we did not come here to change Cayman, we came here to enjoy it and it belongs to the Caymanians (and the turtles). So back the **** off.
READ THE WRIT. It is not about Dart creating temporary low paying jobs and bringing in foreign labor. It is not about our government selling away our birthright. It is about our basic Constitutional rights being violated by our government for the almighty dollar. Secret deals smack of corruption regardless of the proposed outcome.
These four women have every right to file this writ and I applaud them and hope they are successfull if for no other reason than to show that our Cconsitution is valid and does protect us from dishonest methods of dealmaking under the guise of "for the public good".
If you want job creation them reduce the cost of living and allow the economy to grow. It is only through evonomic growth and stability that true job creation is made.
Bingo! SO much obfuscation. Show us the complete terms of the deal. We don't even know the complete picture of what is going to happen here, we can only guess, based upon the fact that it's hidden!!
Show us the DEAL! There can only be one reason for not doing so.
The same people moaning about Camana Bay are the same people you see going to the movies and eating at Michaels and Ortanique every weekend. The same people moaning about this road closure, will be the same people using the new public beach every weekend and all the other new amentities he puts there.
How do you know that Frank? Or do you just make stuff up that fits your agenda?
Hardly, cause many people can't afford to take their families to eat at Ortanique or Michaels.
and certainly don't want to expend all that energy to climb the free obervation tower
I concur
Tell me how many Caymanian families do you see eating out at Camana Bay on a regular basis? Most of them can't afford it. You may see the ones that have become Caymanians after they made is big at the bank or law firms, but that's about it.
And what's your point, Camana bay was not not built for broke a$$es..
I guess the entire Cayman middle class is cheap a$$ according to you.
Geez louise!!!!!!!!!!!! when will the dart people posting on this blog understand that it is about HOW THE DEAL was done?!!!!!!!!!!!!! this is not to do with camana bay. it is to do with the nra and fcia deals. maybe it is all above board. it might even turn out to be good for some special part of somebody's economy. Doubt it will ever be value for money because government cant do basic math or follow process. They surely cant keep up with experts on the dart team. problem is we DONT KNOW. We DONT TRUST DART. We DEFINITELY DO NOT TRUST political parties and politicians! maybe if somebody would tell the truth, put the whole truth with details in public then we could decide. UNTIL THEN stop telling me I am stupid. NO ROAD CLOSURE!!!!!!!!!!!!! NO DUMP in BT. We will LIVE without one more HOTEL on SMB. More is NOT always better.
youre talking like you know what you're talikng about. so it's true, thee same people. Pictures or it never happened.
Well I guess it took the women to do the mens' jobs…..Wish we could have a woman majority government! The men we send to parliament sadly lack the balls to stand up or get anything done.
If I were Mark, I would be quirming now…but I'm guessing he has been doing a lot of that lately.
I actually agree with this statement. Women are much better at budgeting money than men!
You don't know my wife!
Mark who?
2 words for everybody 'campaigning' to keep this road open. "Its happening!". Focus all this energy towards something that you can actually change and quit whining.
No Mark..It ain't happening just like the dump ain't happening in BT..you go focus on something else like that broom I got cut for you come May 22.
Who's Mark?
They have already changed quite a bit. I hope you don't use the rights of way to the beach that they are fighting for. It would serve you right, obviously you don't understand how important that is.
I actually am mildly in favor of the road closure, but I find your attitude affensive. I remember reading similar statements about the road through the Ironwood Forest. It was going to happen for sure, according to some people. Protesting was a waste of time!. Well as things turned out, it wasn't and the protestors detractors had to eat their words!
Quit whining yourself.
Let's say the ladies win. What happens then? DART sues the CI Gov't and possibly the ladies for breach of contract as it wouldn't be their fault if the government was found to be acting in bad faith/without authority. How many million will the gov't have to repay to DART? Likely plus damages and the loss of the dump deal?
I didn't support the road going in or the beach closure,but the time to sue was before the work started or when it started, not now that it's almost complete. The timing smacks of letting the foreigner do the work and then pulling the rug out from under them.
Given recent government announcements about amendments, and the road being closure before the PWC report (which was commissioned and received months ago) not being disclosed until afterwards, in addition to the Bill of Rights (under which they base their claim) only recently being introduced in Cayman, I can't say I blame them. The statement of claim is quite a well-written document and its not until you see it, that you can understand clearly why such action was taken so late in the day.
I congratulate the ladies involved in this, and commend them for standing up for what they believe in. They have my full support for doing what nobody else in a position to investigate this had the guts to do.
Is this the reason why there does not appear to be any work going on on the new road the last couple of days?
Ladies, there are plenty things going on to protest about in the Cayman islands, but a developer spending a lot of money and creating jobs is not one of them.
You should use your time and energy to protest against something worth protesting – the lenient sentencing of the rapist of a young child instead.
Job availability is _not_ a problem in Cayman
These ladies are protesting for something they want to stand up for. Why don't you use YOUR time and energy to protest the lenient sentencing of the rapist. I know all 4 of them and I'm sure they will be doing their part to bring changes to some of our outdated laws. I hope you can say the same about yourself!!
Three woman standing in the way of progress and jobs. Ladies, go home and worry about something else. Your constant objections and obstruction is not helping the country move forward and achieves NOTHING. Go home.
This is their home and they have every right in any other country to protest against such matters, so why shouldn't they here? As an expat I totally feel for them, as it seems to me Caymanians have no voice in their own country and spineless greedy politicians. If they achieve nothing else, perhaps their actions will make the politicians more accountable. I am all for it.
AGREED! Focus your efforts on beautifying West Bay, and not this silly campaign against a small road closure. The new park that is eing added…..not a good thing?? It’s a frickin road, and being replaced with a bigger road further inland away from the frickin beach
Would you rather have a small section of road so cars can gridlock, or instead enjoy a park where families and friends can hang out (rather than on the current tiny public each sliver)?
Some of you are completely nuts and need to give your head a shake. Cayman doesn’t have a single grassy park, and now one is added. Soooooooo frustrating to listen to this vocal minority. I’m looking forward to family picnics in the new park. Chill folks….it will be ok. Gosh.
Why can't Dart just built the hotel on one side, and his beach bar on the other side of the road? The Ritz has the hotel and its facilities on either side of the road and it seems to work. Why do we need to close the road for Dart?
Because in order to make a hotel business model feasible, you have to sell condos on the beach side, and that doesn't even guarantee success – look at the Ritz.
Hotels are very expensive to run and you cannot get to dollar for condos on the other side of the road.
Perhaps Cayman is overpriced and that's why the hotels are struggling? It cost an arm and a leg to get here and when you get here, you are paying stupid money just for a drink at a hotel bar.
If the product and price is right, people come and are not discouraged just because they have to cross a road!
I wish you could feel that beating stick I just gave you. what a nutcase, these women know exactly why they are fighting so hard to keep this place from becoming the Dart Islands. We are quite happy with the tranquil laid back lifestyle here. Why does everyone who come here wants to turn such a small island into a big city? Take a flight you moron !
Congratulations Ladies. Keep up the good work!!!!!! Where are Ezzard and Alden when you need them? I once took the local council to court where I lived and all around me said it was a waste of time and money. My lawyer said that I had a 50/50 chance of winning but that if I did nothing and they won, I would always wish I had done something when I had the chance. Well, I won and the council lost. I can very well happen for you. Good on ya. All these bloggers that keep telling you to get out of the way of progress are Dart beneficiaries and McKewwa supporters, all 3 of them. Pay them no attention.
I really do not see what the massive issue is with this project. Sure, some of the road is being closed; sure, some traffic will be diverted; and sure, there will be some traffic delays at some point during it's implementation, but these are all problems that can be solved. For one, the majority of construction and road works could occur at night so as not to disrupt the working hour traffic back and forth from West Bay to George Town – I hope that this has been suggested to the powers that be.
I think all in all, this project will be good for our island – it seems to provide not only for short term employment (during construction) but also long term employment (if you look at the plans, there are supposed to be watersports agents and other kiosks placed along the beach). The plans also include a dog park, a children's play ground, a camping ground, additional parking for those who park along the road when patronising establishments such as Tiki Beach. And all of this is not coming from the pockets of the citizens and our government, but from a willing outside contributor. Yes, the argument can be made that we as Caymanians continue to sell our country, but that is no one's fault but our own; and now, what is done is done. We need to accept this and move on and attempt to see the silver lining in what is happening. A park/plan/beach such as this will surely stimulate the tourism sector, which is one of our largest economic contributors. As far as I'm concerned, as long as there are no detrimental long-term environmental impacts then this project will be good for our island.
I wholefully agree with you. It will create a beautiful area for the benefits of all. But you know, some people just can’t handle change. Once it’s completed they will be the first to use the new facilities and complain if it’s ever taken away!
Dart, you are among the few actually beautifying and helping our islands and know that many appreciate it.
The issue is the secrecy. We STILL don't know the full terms of the agreement, and what we do know stinks. Why is DART being given concessions that the rest of the industry can't enjoy?
Any guesses? Think it has anything to do with deep pockets padding shallow ones?
The truth is, we don't know, and won't know until the point where the super-top-secret agreement is disclosed in FULL.
the end?
Duh, Maybe the concessions have something to do with the Bilion Dollars he will be pouring into the Cayman Economy..
i haved read about this for months… i have not heard one reasonable reason why anyone would want to save a road….
this issue is just classic caymanian cave mentality…… i'm glad the elcted officials and the governor can see beyond this…. and they are to be commended for their bravery in facing down small minded local opposition…..
TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT
between the two most populated and congested districts
that one right a bell?
or are you just too busy drooling over the pretty public beach park?
which by the way is possible (the park) along with keeping the road open – with a reduced speed limit and pedestrial crossings
If you weren't born in the cave then maybe you should leave the cave!
And not let the club hit me on the way out?
So, true i agree…they ought to leave the cave, where all of them come to suck out the nutients(our dollar)..and tell us how to live in it..It's about time Caymanians stand up to these suckers!
Get the new road open – get people working again – let people once more have respect – this is a great country – dont drag it down.What is sold is sold – lets salvage what's left and move forward – history is whereit should be – the future is there to make it all right – vote wisely my friends – from an expat
No, to closure of the West Bay road, thank you ladies you show Cayman how it's done! this is one fight that I know Caymanians will not lose. There is always the European Courts of Justice, the United Nations, CNN, NBC, ABC, CBS, 60 Minutes, BBC and the world of public opinion.
There is also ‘Democracy’, under which the Majority Rule.
Put it to the Vote.
Place the issue on the Election Ballot.
” Do you oppose restricting the section of West Bay Road by the Public Beach to Pedestrian-only access?”
Unfortunately, that question would be much too difficult for a large portion of the electorate to understand. And even more unfortunately, I'm being dead serious here.
can't poll – more foreigners than locals
The UN? 60 minutes? PUhleeez! This is a few hundred meters of obsolete road being exchanged for a multi-Billion dollar investment program, not least of which, 2 brand new multi-laned highways (previously Gazzetted) that our broke government could not afford to build for decades. We get it today, at no cost to the taxpayer, and much enhancement to our tourist offering (which is our bread and butter industry). The CIG does not have any money sweetheart. Why don't you call 60 minutes and cry them a river about this kind of energizing economic gift-horse stimulus in this stagnant age. Donors like these are very rare indeed.
You conveniently forgot the crown land that Dart gets plus the concessions on duty plus half of the hotel tax for any hotel he builds and buys for decades. It isn't just about the road or the rights of way to the beach.
Public opinion? 4000 names (many kidsand tourists) what about the other 45,000 that live here and want a decent road?
Close that sand pit and go and worry about Caymanian kids robbing and killing each other (among others)
So tourists views don't count? They should. If children signed the petition then it is indeed unusual, but lets face it the children are our future – but it seems their views don't count either according to you. And your figures are wrong. I'd like to bet that there's a heck of a lot less than 45,000 people supporting this. I know I don't.
Yeah i can just see BBC taking up this one… All the worlds problems and cayman is complaining because someone actually wants to invest in this place and give jobs to locals all done through the elected government, OMG what a story… seriously get a grip, people are dying all over the place and you want the worlds media to focus on a god dam road. Why dont you focus on why the government is employing so many expats, or calling for an employment agency that has a record of every unemployed caymanian and what they are qualified for instead of Dart…. Your elected government signed this deal, no one else, DEAL WITH IT.
Job availability is _not_ a problem in Cayman
They're dealing with it. Stay out of our business and take a hike.
Fed Up
Totally agree in getting people back to work but let's first start with born and bred Caymanians, paper status Caymanians, etc. Caymanians first and then we will all be happy. Remember there is a high unemployment amongst the indigenious Caymanians.
Only because they don't want the work there is or are not qualified to do that work..your comment is so typical of the bs that frequently appears here…everyone else in the world has to earn a living, you all want to be Managing directors of banks when 80% of Caymanians can't add up. Wake up people..you are in an international financial centre which pays for well over half your CS and Government. Get qualifed and remove some of the reason as to why business does not want to employ Caymanians and then you will get more jobs. Nobody "deserves" anything these days, you have to earn it.
This is such nonsense – my husband is more than qualified and capable to be a managing director of a company, but unfortunately the jobs that are on offer surrounding his area of expertise (banking/finance), for the most part, appear to be held by permit holders. This simply isn't fair. My husband is Caymanian, our children are Caymanian and I was granted status last year. All too often I see suitably qualified Caymanians get "fobbed off" or in the worst cases not even interviewed for jobs, simply because the job they are applying for is either a WP renewal, or as I have seen in some cases, they are not interviewed because the hirer only wants to employ ex-pats.
I can only hope that the next government make some drastic changes and implement serious penalties to those who do not abide by immigration laws of Cayman. If not, I fear for the future of my children. Regardless whether they are fortunate enough to go to university, with the type of discrimination that currently appears plentiful in Cayman (as illustrated above), by the time my toddlers are adults our beautiful country may have been turned into mush and be totally crime ridden. This thought/prospect frightens and saddens me.
Ahem you married a Caymanian right? So we’re you here on a work permit prior to your marriage? While I appreciate your concern I have the same for my spouse, myself, my kids, their kids, all Caymanian but I have been in human resources my entire career and I struggle daily to find Caymanians who are willing to work for good wages full benefits because they don’t either want to work the hours a particular industry requires or they simply are completely undereducated or they walk off the job without notice on a whim. I am by no means saying all Caymanians are like this as evidenced by my own family but there sure are more than anyone wants to admit to!
Just like expats have to earn the right to come here, stay here, tell us we are doing wrong, and then demand to become Caymanians themselves?
Rubbish! Every country has a certain amountof unemployable people, so stop the childish generalization. A lot of Caymanians are out of work because they chose to be, but a lot of them are out of work because people import cheap labor and don't pay them the benefits they are entitled too. Employers love the control they have over work permit holders (especially in big law firms and banks) to minimize the chances of people moving around.
Job availability is _not_ a problem in Cayman
No one is objecting to the new road being opened.
And just how do you propose to pay for it? Give Dart an IOU? LOL. You people are hillarious.
You would be hilarious too if you werent so pathetic.
Close that damn new road, dart, and give us back our ocean view.
Yep. You just want your cake and eat it too!!!
For decades Caymanianshave sold there island for a “fast buck”. In the context of your comment, what happens to the workers when the road is finished ? They won’t have saved enough for a pension, and they will again be unemployed manual laborers. I couldn’t care less about the WB Road as a subjective issue – but don’t see short term employment opportunities as the solution to the serious underlying problem of what will happen in the long term.
Short term employment opportunities are surely better than no employment opportunities. Your line of logic is ridiculous. What do you think happens to any of the workers in any field when the project they are working on is completed? They either move on to the next project or are made redundant. Ask any of the people who will be awarded the opportunity to work on this project whether they don't want the employment. I don't think anyone is in a position to be turning down job offers, least of all those in the construction industry.
I think the point is once the work is done they will all be out of work again and we'll be stuck with the same unemployment problem people are dreaming this project will fix. Its only a temporary solution to appease the people and delay the inevitable, not a real solution.
The workers…they will go on to work at the hotel!!
Masons, electricians and carpenters are very skilled workers, but not sure where they would fit in as hotel employees.
Ever hear of a maintenance department? All would be qualified to work in a large hotel’s maintenance department.
You miss the point!
Yes, for decades Caymanians have sold THEIR bits of Island for a fast buck, but what happened here is that A Caymanian (Bush) sold or gave away valuable bits of YOUR Island and who knows what the deal was? Thats the point, he didnt undestand that he owed Caymanians an explanation for doing what he did. What motivated him to do that? I can guess!
" … he didnt undestand that he owed Caymanians an explanation …"
No poster 02/27/2013 – 08:41, McKeeva, The Great Dictator, doesn't owe an explanation to anyone, and certainly not his own Caymanian people.
Perhaps we should heed his lesson.
Profit from the ruination of the Cayman Islands, and invest your money elsewhere.
Kudos to you ladies! Thanks for your tireless efforts for this cause! Whatever the outcome….you'll be able to say you gave it your all! We'll be watching to see how the courts rule on this.
Really backward thinking folks…we need jobs. The four have a cushy lifestyle. They can afford this. We the poor people cantt. Let’s get the road closed and get on with our economy.
I hope you are a foreigne!! because you do not know what landmarks mean to our people in the cayman islands, and especially when it is handed down by our forefathers. Please Please!! do not think that this is the only thing that will jump start our economy, Other ways and means of doing such, – you do not have your Cayman Islands at heart, that too, has helped us to fall flat of our faces – we shall rise but not with people like you who thinks backward, while those three women are forward thinking. Have the nuts and bolts checked in your head before putting your mouth in gear.
I’m a 10 generation Caymanian…I know my forefathers put that road there because that’s the only place they could with a few buckets and shovels. That’s why it’s there-they knew better but could not build it further back from sea. We have in the decades since moved roads all over this island now that we have the equipment here. What we have to realize is there is no view of the sea there and we shouldn’t be looking in that direction anyhow doing 40mph. We will still have access to the beach, we will get a better public beach and we will get a road that is not disrupted by a hurricane or even a strong northwester. Let’s move this country forward not backward. Our forefathers did it for us now it’s our time to have the vision they did.
so much you know. the road was there because the sea was on one side and the swamp on the other
oh please…all emotion and no logic in your comment 23.42.
If you visited many other tourist destinations you would realise that one of the downsides of Cayman currently is having WB road so close to the beach. Most others (but by no means all) are pedestrianised, wider and pleasant walkways,more businesses on the beach providing more jobs. More cafes' more legal "beach" businesses. That has got to be good, more competition for the few businesses that are there now hopefully meaning lower prices. And many more jobs.
If with that we could develop more "all inclusive" hotel stays and develop the airport and port so more people could arrive directly and stay here we could have the ultimate winning package.
WB road is dangerous at the best of times, especially in the area to be closed now, for all concerned, and we have a newer, better, safer, faster route away from the main tourist area.
A lot of people do not like change, but the logic here, is infallible. So please, stop the emotion, all htis is hindering some actually pretty well thought out progress
you mean like Fort George, destroyed by a hero and the Fort at Prospect point dextroy without so much as a whisper, but then it was not Dart that destroued them
Maybe some consistency would be nice?
Four women.
Job availability is _not_ a problem in Cayman
Exactly how will closing the road help the economy? Building the new road and a hotel will, but closing it will not.
Tsk tsk, it takes four gutsy WOMEN to stand up to the UDP corruption!
Well done.
I hope the Governor and the "Premier" pay attention to these women. A question I have been asking myself for a while now is "How can McCastro" give the Tourist Accommodation Tax away to Dart? I worked for many years in the accounting section of the hotel industry and, if there was one thing sacred to all previous governments, it was the tourist accommodation tax. We had to take the check-outs, total the amount of tax collected and submit a check to the government with copies of each guest folio, to verify the amount of the check being submitted for the Tourist Accommodation Tax. The Cayman Islands Government need to look closely at the same family and their subsequent rape and pillage of the islands of Greece. Kudos to Mrs. Multon and Co. Thank God for women like that in our country.
If I take a large sum of money from you, and then REFUSE to repay it, would you not seek legal recourse to recover your capital?
Why should the DART Group do any less?
Busineeses exist to return a profit to their shareholders, that is what enables them to employ people.
Lose money, and people lose their jobs. Profits are invested to create more jobs.
Greece got in trouble by going in the very SAME DIRECTION that we are now going.
CAYMANIANS needs to heed Greece's example, and not critisize DART Group for running a successful business.
“Slight” overreaction don’t you think? Only a small, small portion of the road will be closed.
That "small" portion of the road that will be caused will create a total nuisance to those living in Governors Harbour, Lime Tree Bay, Snug Harbour as I think the majority of the people will opt to continue up and down the new highway and not veer in at the Gov H roundabout to go back down WB road. The noise pollution is already bad as it is. Motorcycles screaming along and rice rockets opening it up on the straightaways at night – just awful…Now, you might say poor little me living in Gov. Harbour but I chose to live there never imagining WB road would be closed. This is going to do wonders to property values for us in here…I only hope the road stays open, personally and selfishly.
I live there too and agree with the racetrack synopsis, but I don't blame that on the road, I blame the RCIPS for not being out there enforcing the speed limit, dangerous driving, and other offences. Thankfully this new route will make it far easier for emergency services to access all areas from West Bay down to GT, and hopefully this becomes a much easier and more actively travelled police beat. That can only be good for us.
3/4 of a mile will be closed eventually. No vehicular access to a sixth of SMB which isn't really 7 miles long.
I applaud those well known women for standing up for what is right. We cannot allow the vultures to eat us all up. This is what I call putting Country first, over the Almighty Dollar. Caymanians I urge you to stand by these women of strength and save a piece of our road for generations to come. Woman built these Islands and women will stand firm for these Islands and what is right. enough of Dart. If you want to own an Island, find one that is uninhabited! stop disrupting the lives of the people of the Cayman islands.You won't be taking it where you are going, satisfy with what you already got. Leave our West Bay Road alone.
Remember in 1962 Dr. Roy McTaggart and Mr. Ormond Panton saved the Cayman Islands from the claws of Jamaica Independence. Take one step at a time and show your strength. Well done ladies.
Actually, Dr. Roy and Mr. Ormond were on opposite sides of this issue with Mr. Ormond favouring full internal self-government under Jamaica rather than continuing as a crown colony under the UK. Know your history.
Mr Dart is a Caymanian: he has just as much right to buy and sell Cayman land as any other Caymanian. You'll need to come up with a better argument than that.
Sorry, you'll need to come up with a better argument than that to earn your fridge this election.
Were I eligible to vote, I might try.
Really? A lawsuit. Now that’s funny.
When is this stupidity going to stop? Please close the road so we can get on with life…a better life. It’s not the first road moved here, in fact the entire West Bay road to the south was moved from the wharf up to the Governors house. Spotts straight was moved after the 1932 hurticane that’s why it’s straight! South Sound road was moved back from Red Bay dock all the way to the Avenue. I could go on. This is purely a political ploy by a few people who have misled so many folks. Sad. Watch, I am predicting at least one of these ladies will run in the election- this is just a political campaign.
The phrase ‘biting off more than you can chew’ is about to play out for these sweet young ladies…
Young ladies? – they say they have used the road for more than 50 years!
All power to you, ladies – let’s hope you’ve got some decent legal advice. As far as value for money is concerned, I don’t think you could ever get value for money for that stretch – it’s priceless, and heartbreaking that if someone doesn’t call a halt to this madness, we lose ready access to a huge piece of the most beautiful beach property anywhere.
What is another hotel is going to do to help Cayman? There will need to be more imported staff (who will not be spending here as they’ll be saving all they can to take/send home because they will be on a low income), and the guests won’t exactly be hot-footing it to GT as there is now nothing there – thanks to Mr Dart. And all Toy Town – sorry – Camana Bay – has, is merchandise that any hotel guest can buy at home.
I think Mr Dart has done enough “for” this island. Time to stop.
These are the kind of people that should be MLAs! Well done…at least you ladies got balls more so than the PPM and UDP brain washers and deep pocket ass kissers!
We need more people like yourselves in the house. If you ladies ran as independent candidates you have my vote as well as my family! Keep pressing on and a huge Thank You for giving me hope.
Please join forces with action man, Ezzard and jude what a team you all could potentially be.
Well done.
Let's hope they get the redress they require. It is time to put a stop to these type of politicians and the type of politics they constantly play. We put them there to represent us but once they get in the power goes to their heads and they forget we can take them out too!
The Governor has the ultimate responsiblity over our Crown land..
No one could have made such a deal without him approving it.
He is the one we need to address this matter with!!!
He is the one the empowered the UDP deal with Dart.
Dart is only looking after their interest.
The UDP was certainly NOT looking after ours!!
Mckeeva aint no more guilty than Juliana, Rolston, Mark, Cline, Dwayne, Mike, Ellio, Eugune.
They are ALL to blame!!
NO! They are all puppets and somewhat to blame. The first and worst is ith prime mover(along with mr D) in this ‘scheme)
Perhaps thats why the Governor is the 1st of 4 Defendants in these proceedings and DART is not a party.
Excellent, it is about time someone puts the conduct of this crop of politicians to the Courts, I think this is going to be a watershed moment that will then open the flood gates for a host of challenges to other acts committed or currently being contemplated.
Next up, lawsuits against Statutory Autority Board members for failing in their fiduciary duties.
It is now time for the law and not the under the table dealing to come into play. I applaud those fighting this road closure and back them 100%.
It will be a shame if Dart finds a way around this with out the courts and legal process scrutinizing it.
If the people can not see the details maybe the courts can!
stay out the way of progess please, and stop living in the pass. the only reason the road is there is because that is the only place it could be made back in the day , just like the cemetery,s. that would not happen today because they can be build elsewhere, and anyone wanting to be buried in the beach side cemetery’s better reserve, because that will soon be a thing of the past.
What is the “pass” in which you suggest these ladies are living. If you are incapable of editing your own manuscript, then your overall intellectual credibility comes into question. Appreciating that none of us is prefect, read the bloody text before you hit the “send” button.
Sut up!
Prefect?
Come up with a decent argument rather than pointing out typos.
In the pass I was a prefect!
As well as not being able to check your own spelling – you do not seem to understand the meaning of the word manuscript. Personally I wouldn't judge you too harshly on this, more on the quality of your argument, but by your standards you may wish to consider your own intellectual credibility.
hope you will lose and pay all court fees!! closed the road now and get a life girls.
Many will come forward to support this – financially. I certainly will.
Sure you will!!…haha
God save us all! lets hope its kicked out of court very quickly. In every other part of the world people ptotest about the establishment of roads, but here we protest about reclaiming them. What has Cayman come to!
Why on earth are we supposed to do what people in every other part of the world do?
Yeah I agree lets do the opposite – other people recycle – lets not do that, other people hold their governments accountable – lets not do that, I could go on but why bother.
Thank you Mr. Former Premier for this mess you created. I am hopeful many will seek to have you back in power so that we can make the most of your shenanigans. All the best to you, and all the worst for the rest of us. Regards, your fellow Caymanians.
As I said, the girls have it for winning elections in 2013 yes the girls and the boys, Ezzard and Arden should be running the house of assembly.
More women is needed in the house, we do not need yes girls that agree to everything, But we need some women that have determination like steel to get the job done.
Ezmie Smith has been fighting for road access for almost a decade and a half. i'm glad our women lawyers are on the ball fighting in the courts and running for office.
Eventually the women will have the country back in good shape.
Kudos to Alice, Ezmie, Betty and Annie and all the men standing up with you on this road closure issue.
Women a ga run dis country!!!!
You forgot the i
Nice one ladies. Please keep up the pressure and I truly hope your court case succeeds.
Nice one ladies. Please keep up the pressure and I truly hope your court case succeeds.
This is great, proud of these strong caymanian ladies!!!!
Nunsense
What was your mama thinking about?