Three marina plans for Brac
(CNS): Cabinet is currently considering coastal works licences in relation to three proposed marinas for Cayman Brac. One at Salt Water Pond next to the Alexander Hotel, which will require cutting a channel though the fringing reef and ironshore and building a new road around the pond, has been heavily criticised by the National Trust, which claims it could have a "profoundly negative effect" on the island’s diving industry. There is also a proposal for a marina on the northwest coast of the island, near Cemetery Pier (left), and another within the sound on the south side near Carib Sands condominiums. The Department of Environment (DoE) has said that multiple marinas for the island are not likely to be economically viable and it favoured the proposal on the north coast.
In its recommendations to the Development Control Board (DCB), which is the deciding authority for upland developments on the Sister Islands, the DoE said, “Taking into consideration local knowledge of prevailing weather patterns, sea conditions, reef structures, water depths and access to deep water, siting a marina on the north western section of Cayman Brac appears most appropriate.”
The DoE noted that access to deep water would likely reduce the requirements for significant offshore channel dredging within the marine park. Thislocation would also take advantage of the existing Scott’s Jetty as a sheltering breakwater and it would not require any road to be re-routed.
The DCB has given this application, made by developers MMCB Ltd, an affiliate of Le Soleil d’Or, conditional approval based on receipt of the coastal works licence, which is decided by Cabinet. Located between Scotts Dock (Cemetery Pier) and the Bucanneer, it includes a swimming lagoon roughly 100 by 65 feet, which the developers say will have recreational facilities, such as slides and trampolines.
According to the application, the marina section will be approximately 400 by 135 feet with a depth of 11 feet – large enough for cruise ship tenders – with removable boat slips and a public boat ramp. All excavation material will be used on the upland portion of the property.
A spokesperson for the developers said, “We want to see Cayman Brac develop in a sustainable way and offering a high end product.” She said the project would take approximately six months to complete once the coastal licence had been approved.
MMCB has also applied for a second coastal works licence for a marina located within the sound between Kidco Dock and Carib Sands, consisting of 17 perpendicular boat slips – about 400 feet across – excavated to a depth of seven or eight feet.
The Salt Water Pond proposal, which has been put forward by Cleveland Dilbert, owner of the Alexander, includes a coastal works licence to remove 167,000 cubic yards of marl, rock and sand from the sea bed; 80,000 cubic yards to be used on site and 87,000 cubic yards to be used for the new road, according to the application. (Left: The Alexander Hotel was built in 2009 next to a pond that smells when the water line is low.)
Large boulders will be placed going offshore to make the base of a jetty (groyne), which will act as a road for the excavators to move offshore, the application states. The proposal is for the inland pond to be excavated simultaneously (a decision that rests with the DCB) and water allowed to settle prior to the opening of the sea. The channel and the pond will then be connected.
In a statement about the Salt Water Pond marina, the Trust said it was “of the opinion that any economic benefit that the developers hope to derive from the proposed marina will be far outweighed by the economic losses for the already declining Brac economy as a result of the imminent damage that will ensue for some of the best dive sites in Cayman Brac.”
Stressing the loss of protection for the land that would result from this proposal, the Trust noted that this area of the Cayman Brac coastline is subjected frequently to strong wave action from prevailing easterly winds.
“The proposed channel would be constructed through two separate protected areas, a Marine Park and a Replenishment Zone. It would breach the fringing reef, negatively impacting these areas by removing 1.25 acresof seagrass, 1 acre of coral, and 17 acres of sandy bottom. These areas will be irrevocably changed leading to a loss of nursery areas for fish and other young marine life. It is important to note that a total of 19.25 acres will be dredged and the proposed groyne would impact an additional area. The amounts of fish, conchs, lobsters, and other animals available to be harvested may decrease precipitously,” the Trust said.
“The associated beach is one of the few on Cayman Brac where sea turtles have nested in recent years. The proposed channel and associated groyne have the potential to increase beach erosion, reducing the area available for nesting turtles. Additionally the increased boat traffic would likely adversely impact turtles breeding, and effluent from the marina would impact the nests, not to mention the human population.”
The Trust further noted, “Salt Water Pond acts as a water catchment holding runoff from the surrounding land through the rainy season with water levels in the pond often higher than mean sea level. Dredging a channel into the pond, and further dredging of the pond, will shunt sediments and nutrients into the marine environment. This will increase negative impacts to the reef, and sediments will threaten many popular dive sites down current with reduced visibility or increased algal overgrowth. This in turn could have a profoundly negative effect on Cayman Brac’s dive industry.”
Cleveland Dilbert, owner of the Alexander Hotel, released a statement Sunday night to say that comments made by Paul Watler of the National Trust regarding his proposed marina were “sensationalized, not based on the facts”, and accused him of “speaking to the public under the perception that he is an authority on constructing safe harbours in the Cayman Islands”.
However, though Dilbert said a more detailed response would be released later this week, he has not yet offered any factual arguments to counter the Trust’s position.
See below for full statements from the National Trust and Cleveland Dilbert, as well as images for locations of the two MMCB marinas.
Related article on CNS:
Critical habitat threatened (2 May 2012)
Category: Local News
They should only approve one of the Marina Developments!!
The one by Scott's is the perfect location. They are are destroying any ponds or ripping down any reefs! The water is almost as deep as they need. Also, the cruise ship that is coming here already has no issue!!
The one by Carib Sands is not necessary and not only kills more of the animals life, but also destroys swimming places for families. AND the owner which is pushing the matter is not Caymanian and also does not support Caymanians!!! She has bought over 4 massive properties in Cayman Brac and has not given back to the community in any such way.!! xxxxx She only hires foreigners or people with status, tell me how she is supporting Caymanians?! Another reason she is asking for the marina is because she is in the process of building a Botique Hotel, that the rates will be $700 – $1,000.00 a NIGHT!! This is in my opinion a waste of space, funds, and material!!
The other choice by The Alexander Hotel, is not necessary as well!! This development will destroy the ecosystem there as the pond behind the hotel is home for over 100 whistling ducks, 20 species of fish and who knows what else!! But from my understading the developer knew this going into the construction of the Hotel!!
They say that Caymanians have a voice, but why is it that when we Speak up no one listens!! The MLA who cried with us to get our vote are only looking out for themselves and thier pockets!!
I use to be so proud to say i am Caymanian, like it actually mean't something!!! Now i'm not so sure if being caymanian still means "honorable"
If one of the proposed marinas were built,I for one would love to travel on our boat over to stay on the Brac, dive there and L.C , stage fishing trips up off Pickle bank. I know of many people here on Grand Cayman that would also do the same. It would create another destination for boaters & once known, you would also see transit yachts stop-over there as well. At the moment, the Brac is largely exposed for mooring, with the only options to anchor in South Sound, or dock at one of the private or dive resort docks. You would see sailing yachts want to stop there & use as a base / stepping-stone for sailing to Cuba ( from Grand Cayman) and further afield. This idea has the potential to create a thriving future industry for the Brac and Little Cayman & income for their residents. I'm not swallowing it will 'destroy' the islands beauty or its natural charm. This is an opportunity for the sister islands and its people.
I can guarantee you won't be parking your boat in that north coast marina. She doesn't want any locals. Your best bet is the one that Cleveland wants on the south coast by the pond. As the cabinet declassified it before the new governemnt got into office, I don't know what the problem is with making it a marina now.
The north coast marina seems like the best option to me – but an Environmental Impact Assessment still needs to be done. If the Brackers want a marina, hopefully they will choose the one that harms their environment least…
I keenly appreciate the need to protect the environment but I also recognise the need for humans to make a living, and I really like Cayman Brac; thus, I take offence at the Cayman National Trust's public statements quoted here. Their ill-conceived propaganda campaigns just makes it harder to win positive public opinion relative to environmental protection. The National Trust's statements relative to the Brac marina are so biased and rife with propaganda that I scarcely can contain the urge to hurl.
First off: I question the Trust's ability to paint a true and reliable picture of the scope of the project. Let's do the math: If the channel was dredged 150 feet wide [wider that the locks of the Panama Canal] the channel would have to be well over one mile long to dredge area of 19.5 acres as quoted in the Trust's statement! Something is very fishy about the Trust's figures. [Pun intended!] If CNS quoted the National Trust figures correctly [Did you CNS?] then whoever produced the figures needs a reality check [or needs to learn to do simple maths.] Any idiot can see that the figures are wayyy off! What moron provided/computed the areas anyway? [My 12 year-old niece is not impressed by the way. She says she could have done better.] I am quite surprised no one else here called these ridiculous numbers into question. Psssttt! Wake up readers!
Ok. So the Trust publishes unreliable figures. No surprise there. Let's move on:
The Trust is "of the opinion that any economic benefit that the developers hope to derive from the proposed marina will be far outweighed by the economic losses for the already declining Brac economy as a result of the imminent damage that will ensue for some of the best dive sites in Cayman Brac". Great point! All the more reason to encourage the development of marinas on Cayman Brac. If government and the public encourages the development of additional legs of the Cayman Brac economy, and if Cayman Brac develops materially and economically then the islands private-sector economy would no longer be a one pony show focused around "dive sites" and at the mercy of tourism and scuba divers (and rabid "environmentalists").
The article goes on to express some interesting and authoritative-sounding quasi- facts. The acid test for the validity of the Trust's statement is this: Does their statement reflect the rational opinion of qualified professionals trained and experienced in salt water pond, estuary and near-shore marine environments? Or is it mere propaganda? Mr. Walter does not possess the qualifications to offer a qualified opinion on the subject. The National Trust have not undertaken a scientific study of the actual environmental (and economic) impact ofthe marina. In this regard the Trust and its minions are – as the late Mr. Haig Bodden used to say – rubber squeaking toys. The opinions that the Trust has published so far are, as- yet, factually baseless and numerically incorrect. When they go on to offer an economic forecast, that where I held my mouth to keep from vomiting.
Here is the best part! (To me anyway.) The Trust are apparently not so choosy as to how ecologically "clean" donated assets are. According to my research, one of their early and most significant donations was a very large tract of Brac Bluff land given by way of a very wealthy expatriate Trust benefactor a goodly portion of whose wealth was derived from logging vast areas of virgin forests, seismic seabed oil exploration, and fossil fuel distribution. This same benefactor was the driving force behind a proposal to dredge a marina out of the large westerly pond adjacent to the Brac airport! What sweet irony, eh?
CNS's article states: "(Developer, Cleveland) Dilbert said a more detailed response would be released later this week, he has not yet offered any factual arguments to counter the Trust’s position." Why should Mr. Dilbert waste the time to respond? The Trust has not offered any "factual" arguments to counter! The Trust's statement offers little more than biased opinion, innuendo, propaganda, and fear mongering. [And bogus measurements.] It is beneath the dignity an organisation with so lofty a calling to reduce itself to such low-brow tactics to make their point. And, gee, at least publish relaible figures!
"The National Trust have not undertaken a scientific study of the actual environmental (and economic) impact of the marina."
Indeed they have not, no one has. That is the point.
McKeeva et al have withdrawn long standing environmental protection of the pond and started in motion a plan to dredge the channel and create a marina without any scientific or economic study. Now you dare to point the finger at the Trust for attempting to warn people to look before they leap, and blame them for the lack of proper studies?
The rest of your spewing is, point 1, at worst a miscalculation, lets say 1.95 acres, happy now? point 2, your suggestion that the Brac can do without their existing tourism mainstay, where are your facts or figures to back your case? Point 3, Completely irrelevant mumbo jumbo about a historical donation of land, assuming your "research" (insider knowledge, more likely) is accurate! Red Herring!
What hateful, arrogant and obnoxius blether!
Nice try, but I don't buy it. Was there "scientific or economic study" when the pond was originally given its long standing environmental protection? Nope. How about after it was listed? Nope. Anyway, I am glad you agree that the Trust blew their fluff without any meaningful science behind them. Thank you!
So…Big Kahuna Bush, jumped the gun concerning the pond without scientific study? The Trust cast stones at the Alexander Marina project without any scientific backing. Hmmm…? By your own standards, you are essentially agreeing that the Trust have manifested the same mindset that you castigate Bush for. So, yeah! I am pointing a finger at the Trust! But so have you! Thank you for assisting me in the finger-pointing! Again, you have been a great help in bolstering my argument. By the way: I don't point the finger at the Trust for attempting to warn people, I point the finger in the way they have gone about it thus far.
You attribute the overstatement of the scope of the project to a dumb "miscalculation"? Ok, that's bad enough in a press release intended to be published to the general public. What you trying to tell me is that the Trust were so careless that they "accidentally" overstated their case by a factor of ten? How is it that no one in the Trust bothered to check the facts and figures before publishing the report? And, no, I am not "happy" at the 1.95 acre figure you proffer. Why should I be "happy" with yet another figure pulled out someone's…ahh…imagination?
You say the issue is "…at worst…" a miscalculation? No, I assure you that is not the worst case scenario. It could be much worse! It is a very well-known political and public-relations "negative press" ploy to use sensational but false data to sway public opinion and smear the opposing side early on in an issue. The information goes viral and sours the minds of a portion of the public. Once swayed, the "residue" of the souring always lingers, regardless of later "apologies" and retraction of the "error". So, this is one reason why, to me, at least, the error is very relevant to the issue. Until the Trust offers a credible explanation for making such a glaring error I shall remain skeptical. The Trust's silence on the issue thus far is perplexing.
You say I "…blame them (the Trust) for the lack of proper studies"? Really?? Did I say that? Nope. Not true. However, (now that you mention it) one would think that if the pond were such an environmentally significant site that the Trust, and/or the the Department of the Environment, would have undertaken those studies long ago. If for no other reason than to support an effort to have the pond "re-listed." So maybe they should be called to task about the lack of studies. Or maybe the pond is just simply a rarther dead and smelly, environmentally unimportant site after all?
You accuse me of saying that "…the Brac can do without their existing tourism mainstay". That is just an obnoxious falsehood. Where did I say that? (Gee, you have a comprehension problem, or what?)
(Bing! Bing! Bing!) At least you got one point kinda right: my story about the land donation is "insider knowledge", conveyed to me by a former high-ranking member of the Trust. So you need not assume. I researched the issue further as I, in all my obnoxious arrogant glory, like being right. So I had to verify it a bit more. Having done so, I stand behind the facts and actually understated the story somewhat. "Red herring", blue herring, polka-dot herring…whatever…I think the whole story is quite colourful and almost comically ironic.
As the misinformation came from Dilbert on the planning application about the size of the dredging do you want to revise your stance that it must have been a conspiracy theory by the NT? The NT and CNS repeated the numbers given on the application.
No retraction by comment author needed as I understand that project architect Burns Conolly corrected the figure but government apparently did not record the correction.
Exactly, they have been fighting that poor man for years even for building the hotel. Caymanians hate to see a Caymanian get anything. Yet they will give it to aforeigner who doesn't even hire Caymanians. People don't buy this crap that the Trust is pushing down your throats. This is a political manuever. There is a lot of dirt being buried in the Brac but being that all the poepl in Cayman Brac is working for government they can't say anything. Investigate deeper. Check out who they bought some of the land from. There is a big mess in Brac and some very dirty hands.
Come on let the Brac grow a little approve the 2 of 3 request by MMCB and let them decide.
Please we need it here Big Brother !
So we now want cayman brac and little cayman to be just like grand cayman?People be careful for what you ask for. Today I was in traffic for 45 minutes just to get from prospect to town. Don't let the greedy developers sing it will help with jobs. You want jobs to feed your families then become entrapanuears such opening dive shops, Eco lodges with trails, horse back ridings, rock climbing, etc….don't mess up a good thing like what we did on cayman. If you ask any caymanian who remembers the holiday inn, we all miserable and dying young.
Who would come to the north side in the winter only someone looking to destroy their yacht or boat in the severe weather,
I think the South side by Kidco would be the better site as it is reef protected,has beach and is in the area of the other resorts.
The cut thru the reef well you be the judge.
The Brac is the recipient of transfer payments from GCM under the PMFL. Whether you call it employment of people doing nothing or not does not matter. The place only survives because of payments from the Budget to keep things going – even these things that do not really exist. And, guess what, the District Commissioner gets paid $140,000 for all the "stress" his job entails. And every one of the civil servants there, doing little, tells you they are stressed out. They should be rotated to GCM regularly.
It is beyond my comprehension why this project would work from a financial standpoint for the people of the Brac. Sure, a few temporary jobs will be made whilst it's being built and three people to operate the marina after but that's about it.
Tourists want to come to the Brac for nature and diving. To destroy the reef for a marina is really not the smartest idea. It will worsen the environment and that in itself will further lower tourist numbers.
The quality of the tourist product on the Brac is what really needs to be dealt with by the private sector. Better hotels, services and environment would attract tourists with a higher spending profile. Elsewhere around the world that means Eco friendly, high end product with an eye for aesthetics and exceptional service.
Trying to attract more boats and more flights does not make people come to the island, contrary to people's belief. It is not the supply of potential tourists that is the problem but the demand for the services currently offered. The Brac is a stunning place that demands better than these half thought out schemes that don't address the root of the problem.
You are right, Anonymous 15:48. If this crazy idea is acted upon, a very large amount of our money will be wasted. Our economy will never be improved by projects that will never return the investment. (Value for money? No!) Plus, cutting throughthe reef could cause unwanted changes to our environment.
I am all for the Brac having tourism which will create jobs etc.BUT be very careful in cutting too many channels through the barrier reefs as this will possibly lead to an environmental disaster.Get all your facts BEFORE taking this giant step as once the channel is cut you will not be able to "put it back together"as nature had intended it to be in the first place.I have seen the outcome of several"channels"around Grand Cayman over the years and they have lead to problems of increased current loss of sand and loss of life as in he channel that was cut in BT many years ago.
This is not a barrier reef. it is what we call shallow water.
Barrier reefs are made up of pan- shoal (corals)and loose stones knitted by little sea animals. This particular area is dead. The water is very shallow and stays warm most the time.
When dredged it will create proper dept, crevices and cool water, which will harbour sea life, abundantly.
In case the technocrats dont know this. We are blessed with these Islands sitting on three mountain ridges. With 100% clear water, flowing currents and tides which allows all impurities to filter away from the shores ( the land)
Years ago when the old folks harvest pan shaols ( corals) for making white lime ( cement ) (Kiln) to build their wattle and dap walls with, the milky stuff would appear, which caused no harm.
Many corals have grown back since. Within hours the water was clear again, there were no evidence of any settlements. it dissipated with the currents and flowing tides.
Not a reef? Please let me correct you. Cayman Brac's south side barrier reef runs eastward from the western end of the island. I have swam and snorkeled a great portion of the inside of it and there are many coral heads and many fish to be seen and enjoyed. It is not dead! There are some areas where it is too shallow for swimming or operating boats but this is from naturally deposited sand inside the reef'. I still enjoy snorkeling from Carib Sands to Brac Reef Resort and seeing the tarpon and rays and numerous other interesting creatures. You should try it.
9;29
Thank you for confirming what i said.
That area is too shallow to even swim, much less for fish and sea life to harbour.
You mentioned you enjoy snorkling from Carib sands to Brac reef. I can see why you choose that area to snorkle. Carib sand is approximatly a quarter mile west from where the proposed cut is to be carried out.
It would be useless for you to snorlkle in such shallow water which is too warm and has no sealife.
I was born and raised up on the Brac and have swam, spear fish all the coast line.
That is also a conservation area and yes there is sea life even though it is a littleshallow. I lived in that area for twenty years so I should know. I stepped on a flounder, got sea eggs in my foot, caught fish, etc.
Do you want the Brac to be like Aruba? Or St.Johns? Or another island covered with various structures to make hordes of rich vacationers happy? I don't! I like the Brac like it is. I like the bluff. I like the trails. I like the caves. I like the beautiful water and the great diving and snorkeling. I like the friendly people who live here. I don't want the island covered with resorts and fancy night clubs. I don't want the traffic, nor everyone trying to make a fast buck, and I don't want the crime. I don't even want the Brac to be like Grand, with all the crowds jamming the sidewalks and all the streets jammed with vehicles. Let the Brac remain as it is!
You are right, the Brac should remain addicted to welfare from Grand Cayman. Cut off their government funding completely and I bet they will stop their moaning.
What is your friggin problem? You keep coming on here with your crap about the Brac every chance you get. The only person that appears to be moaning is YOU!! Every time a topic on the Brac pops up you sound as if you're going to lay a few eggs. You don't have enough sense to see that Brackers are not paying attention to the stupid remarks that you continue to post? I really hope you're not one of them that flies over there every now and then to hide and drink your liquor or affair because the people of that island can sure as hell survive without the few dollars that a cheap sounding moron like you would probably spend.
Ah how friendly. Caymanbrackind.
You have it your way, as long as all those the duty subsidies are abolished and Government employment in the Brac is cut to 20% of the working population.
Great News!! This is finally a real solution for the Brac economy. I hope National Trust doesn't get in the way. Hopefully our PPM government will do what's right for the Brackers and let them create a sustainable economy. It would certainly be good for us here in Cayman too.
The National Trust is a large organization. Their ideas may not always be the best, but this time they are trying to prevent another big mistake by CIG. Too many times the government has initiated projects that were very costly and of little or no benefit to the public. Some appear to have been done for the benefit of some special interest or individual. I cannot say who will benefit from cutting out a channel through the southside reef, but it won't be Brackers.
Keep in mind that visitors do not come to the Brac just to stay in a hotel or resort….. they come to see the natural beauty offered, both above and below the water.
DoE should consider that the endangered species in Cayman Brac is the Caymanian trying to earn a living to feed his/her family!
What have you been smoking? Did you not hear and see what the Deputy Premier and Government revealed? 80% of Cayman Brac relies on Government Support. That is a damn welfare state!!
and it will remain that way if we don't start approving some projects like this one.
I say startthe marinas tomorrow.
Your nom de plume may be "Truth" but I doubt that you would recognise the truth if it fool clatted you across the face a few times: Nowhere did the Deputy Premier even obliquely suggest that 80% of Cayman Brac depends on welfare.
Of course the Deputy Premiere made a gaffe in his original statement as reported here on CNS: Moses Kirkconnell is quoted in the article as stating, “Government employs approximately 80% of the people on Cayman Brac so the economy is totally dependent". What he probably meant to say was that "Government employs approximately 80% of the workforce on Cayman Brac…". Two vastly differrent things.
Re-read his statement and, in the context of objective economic analysis come back with the "truth" – if you can that is.
So when you kill everything that is almost extinct, what are your plans then to feed your family?
Can you explain what you meant by Kill everthing! that is almost extinct?
All Dilbert is asking is to cut a channell 100 ft wide x 12 feet deep section through a damn dead shallow water part of the bay, where nothing lives, and
I have lived there for 62 years and never saw one tourist flocked to that pond.
I snorckled that area just 3 years ago and never saw a sea urchin much less any other sea life.
Do you know there is a known fact that sea life love to harbour in crevices, under boulders and ledges? maybe the tree huggers should try to create habitats for these sea life. Because there are none in that area.
Speaking of extinct. The invironmental department took away the groupers didnt they? the boobys are still there the Man -O -wars are still there. We have a conch, lobster and whelk season.
The national trust have a bird sanctuary on the bluff with no birds..hundreds of acreas of land..fair enough, and i could go on.
What have the Brackers got? fooled by the self indulgences. They need to stand firm and invite these type of developments.
They will be the frst to have the only safe harbour, within the Cayman Islands, when this project is completed.
This is probably the most stupid comment I have ever read in CNS. I'm not usually this blunt but your comment is ridiculous. I also know that your statements about the area are false because I have been there. Did someone pay you to write such drivel?
Well lets see how much thumb down you will receive for you calling my comment stupid. lets deal with the issue.
Can you contribute to why the marina shouldnt be done and lay off the persecution.
You said you have been there. I was born and raised there, fish and spear fished the area since 1967.
That particular area is dead, too shallow and warm for sea life.
No one paid me! i have enough sense to know the Brac needs this development.
Do you go fishing a lot because you have no friends? With that sort of attitude I can understand why.
You should not raise a family you can't afford.
Hey…check what you wrote again and you will find it is even more preposterous that what you probably intended on saying, which thought most likely is "You should not start a family you cannot afford." Your statement suggests that one in financial crisis should simply stop supporting their dependents. Either way, is a silly and unthinking comment! But the way you worded it make you sound extra silly.
Between friends and extended family relatives living on Cayman Brac, I know a lot of people living there and love the place myself, so I write here that which I know. From what I have seen of Cayman Brac and in actually talking to its people there, I have heard and seen for myself that prices and the cost of living on Cayman Brac have risen at a pace well beyond the growth of wages and economic opportunity. Thus if a Brac business owner started a family they could "afford" back then, yeah, contrary to your foolish advice, they might well have problem putting food on the table today due to a shrinking economy and steeply rising prices. So try something called "thinking" before you write tripe next time, ok?
Speaking of putting food on the table in Cayman Brac: over the last several years I have witnessed the price of food on Cayman Brac become preposterous. It is not uncommon to see items there selling for twice that (or more) for the same item I buy in Grand Cayman. Was in a store on the Brac very recently and I saw a basket mostly comprised of bruised, sunburned, and cracked tomatoes (some appearing to be on the verge of decaying) selling for over CI$6 per pound! And I saw another basket of almost as pitiful looking ones selling for CI$4.50 per pound. I've seen no-name brand run of the mill cheddar cheese there selling for between $5 and $7dollars per pound and name-brand cheddar selling for over $11 per pound.
I make a habit of checking dates on items and I've regularly seen the same store with the exhorbitanbtly priced tomatoes selling out-of-date cheeses, dairy products, and other out-of-date and "close-dated" perishables and semi-perishables, for "market down" prices that are well above what I pay in Grand Cayman for the same items fresh! That situation just looks like profiterring to me. It is pathetic that Brackers have to pay more for what the supermarkets in Grand Cayman would throw away than what the average shopper in Cayman pays for fresh stuff.
I pity the poor Brackers trying to feed their families at the prices I see on Cayman Brac.
The price of goods on the Brac is nothing to do with central government or Grand Cayman. The prices are set in a free market by the shop owners on the Brac. It is they too who have chosen to sell their fellow islanders lower quality product. Either demand better or set up shop in competition and provide better quality goods at lower prices and win all the business and force others to up their game too.
And where did I mention that the price of goods on the Brac has anything to do with central government or Grand Cayman? My focus was merely to highlight, in the face of foolish comments, the economic difficulty faced by Cayman Brackers vis-a-vis the cost of living. That notwithstanding, for reasons on which I can elabourate should you care to have me prove you wrong, your statement – "The price of goods on the Brac is (sic) nothing to do with central government or Grand Cayman" is overly broad and overly simplistic and is in fact, false. But that is beside the point I was trying to make.
Okay, humor me Just Commentin. Try convince me that there is any family planning that occurs? Long lost is the art of pausing, and thoughtful consideration of – can we afford any children- let alone the first child, then the second, and finally the third…with thought given beyond this year, this decade.
Two sure ways to increase poverty- having children with an undesirable mate(s)- aka deadbeat dads, and of course divorce.
You first. Humour me, keep on reading, then write back and show me where family planning has any real relevance to my comment. (Oh? You can't. Darn! No humor for me today, huh?)
The families to which I alluded could include meticulously well-planned families, families whose children were all "accidents" due to latex fatigue, or the families could be childless: the issue of "family planning" is substantially irrelevant to my comment. To expand your limited grasp of the issue, let me add this: The economy of Cayman Brac has sunken to the point that many childless couples and many single people are complaining of the hardship. Humor me and let's hear your answer to them. I hope it is more rational than your babble about "family planning".
In regard to family planning, giving thought "…beyond this decade" sounds good in theory; however, the severity of the recent global economic crunch took even seasoned financial analyists and veteran economists by surprise. No doubt many very well-planned families were plunged into dire economic straits. The only way to avoid the economic uncertainty factor is to forego having children entirely. That would spell the end the human race, of course. But, hey, with the pesky humans gone the goal of the rabid tree-huggers would be gloriously realised. A pristine Earth all green again. Mother Nature will be gently cradling it in her arms and singing it lullabies, until she renders it a smouldering cinder from an asteroid hit.
Who said anylthing about cant afford to raise a family?
This is a far cry from your statement.
The Brac needs more developments to sustain their high cost of living. Please, some of you try to look out side the box.
This facility will create long term jobs for most Brackers. It's not just a channell and marine basin Mr. Dilbert is developing. looking at the proposed concept i see alot more businesses on the site.
As a safe harbour, this marina will attract large yachts from G Cayman and the rest of the world. They will need local seemen to tend to their boats.. on a monthly basis.
I also see a dive shop proposed.
A sustainable economy for the Brac goes hand in hand with a sustainable environment in the Brac.
You don't have to be a tree hugging fanatic to see that the Brac's only asset is its beautiful natural environment. Why else would a yachstman want to dock his boat there?
One thing is for sure a wealthy yacht owning person won't want to go for a stroll along the Divi beach after he's tied his yacht up!!!!!. Shame Government doesn't get it's Ass in gear and sort out the Bracs "BEST" asset that now looks like a"DUMP"!!!!.
A Marina?, some Marinas?
Just as it is for Grand Cayman, so it is for Little Cayman and the Brac.
NONE of them are on the yachting trail. They never will be. The windward Islands, the BVI and the Bahamas are. Dont try and mimic them because it wont work.
Instead, work on the charm that is there, projects like the old Beach Club in Grand Cayman, or the low hype cottage style development in Little Cayman will work, whilst falling into the idea that high spec high cost projects will not!
I agree! The prevailing business model, however, seems to be: "If you build it, they will come."
But we need to think critically about how this will impact the Brac economy and not just assume that building a marina will bring tourism and jobs and money… how many Brackers are qualified to work in the construction of a marina? How many will be employed to run it? We cannot simply assume a "trickle down" effect from such projects. The developers proposing them are doing so for a reason – and I am certain their first justification was not "because it will be good for the people and continue to produce economic benefits for them long after I'm dead and gone".
The National Trust offered the opinion that you should at least consider the possibility of creating a negative impact on your existing dive industry before rushing into this proposed project blindly. That is what Environmental Impact Assessments are for.
Could the National Trust offer some options for a sustainable economy for Cayman Brac? We tired of the negativity and depending on social services! If development is not approved then the few Brackers left here might as well move to the Sister island of Grand Cayman and leave Cayman Brac for the national trust.
If you only care about business opportunity and have little or no regard for the environment, then why don't you offer to take all of the garbage from Grand Cayman? That is a solution that both Dart and Bodden Town voters could agree on.
Sad that this is the solution someone from Grand Cayman would offer to Cayman Brac. Very Sad.
A short anatomical analogy comes to mind regarding our three islands and what some are proposing. Grand Cayman is the ever expanding gullet which feeds both the stomach, Little Cayman and leaves whatever crap isleftover for the butthole, Cayman Brac.
Might as well! That's all they ever think brackers deserve!
7;12
Speak up Brackers do not let National Trust decide your future.
We survived without them for the last 200 years. This little Island has been put in a stop- watch position by these ass h@@@s
For too long they have madethis island their little garden….safe retired home. They have made tons of money from their own developed country, now they do not want to see the Brac progress economically.
Stand Up!!!!
I don't understand why CPA WOULD HAVE APPROVED the Alexandria hotel in the first place considering the stench from the pond. Now they blame natures way of cleaning the land for the loss of revenue and developers wish to make a muck of the environment. Baffles me.
CNS: The CPA is not involved in planning approvals for Cayman Brac andLittle Cayman. That is the function of the DCB.
Alexander not Alexandria (Ol Dutch)
The National Conservation Lawis supposed to protect the environment so if the the project and channel goes through two marine parks and is approved then we know the ppm are full of $hit!!!!
Any development that involves any risk of interference with the reef should be rejected without any other consideration.
But where are the Fat Cats with big fishing boats suppose to go after 12 mile Banks? Come on, you only have to look at George Town Yacht Club: Neville (Scott.).to know that this was only phase one for the big expensive fishing boats. The ruling class can afford $$$ all the gas it takes to get to the Brac for a nice weekend, so of course they need a nice Marina. With this one, you can't fight city hall. (a few control it all)