Headline News
Residents fight quarry return
(CNS): Residents of Mahogany Estates in Lower Valley are taking up the fight to save their neighbourhood from being turned into what they describe as a quarry once again. For many years residents in the area have been battling the excavation in the heart of their community. The misery was finally ended for them in late 2008 when the Central Planning Authority (CPA) denied an application from the developer to restart leveling the land. However, on Wednesday of this week the authority will be hearing another application from Whiterock Investment to extract 295,000 cubic yards of fill, threatening the short lived peace and quiet the residents have only recently regained as well as the natural environment.
The ongoing saga that the community has faced for many years has resurfaced despite the fact that in October 2008 the CPA denied an application to restart the development (which the developer denies is a quarry) on the correct basis that it was illegal to pursue activities that would "cause noise and create a nuisance and annoyance to the residents of the area" and "negatively affect the quality of life of the residents in the surrounding area."
Following another application from the developer, who says the excavation is in order to level the property for further development, the residents have once again had to file their objections.
One of the local residents and one of those who spearheaded the original campaign against the attempts to quarry there, Reverend Nicholas Sykes, said the application should not keep returning to the CPA and causing the continued distress to residents.
“The planning department should be empowered to ‘just say no’ to all such applications made after the CPA’s decision in 2008,” Rev. Sykes said on the eve of a meeting, which had already been postponed from a previous date in December, further heightening the anxiety of the residents.
As a member of the team which helped shape the Cayman Islands Constitution 2009, Sykes noted that it provides for the right to a "Private and Family Life" and “Lawful Administrative Action", which he believes applies to the situation that he and his neighbours keep finding themselves with regards to the persistent attempts by the developer to level the property through industrial quarrying.
“The Development and Planning Law can, it would seem, provide for such an empowerment of the planning department by delegation from the CPA,” Sykes said, explaining that the 2008 decision should continue to apply to the application and not require the residents to constantly raise their objections.
Since the developer is not prevented from reapplying, Sykes believes that because the 2008 decision is not delegated onto the applications the residents are forced to go through the whole objection process again and again, causing them “much distress” as they repeatedly have to prepare their opposition to every application the developer makes.
Sykes said that yet again the people of Mahogany Estates will attend in numbers to protect their homes as they cannot risk that the application could go through by default. He is, however, hoping that this time it may be possible for the October 2008 CPA decision to be applied to all subsequent applications to quarry in this area, removing the residents’ constant obligation to fight for the community, as he believes the law provides for such delegation.
“If this were done, we the residents should not have to be called to further meetings to keep putting the matter back to bed,” Sykes added hopefully. .
The application to excavate not only presents a threat to the people of the neighbourhood but also to the natural forest in the area, which is home to a number of endangered species, including the rare white shouldered bat, which was once thought to be extinct in the Cayman Islands but was rediscovered in the area in 2001. The Department of Environment is hoping the area will become one of the country’s first critical habitats under the new conservation law, which has yet to be passed.
With no conservation law in place, when the CPA hears the application on Wednesday there will be no compulsion for the members to consider the environmental implications, nor will the landowners be under any obligation to carry out an environmental impact assessment if the CPA was to grant permission.
The developer has stated in the application that it will move some of the native trees and that it believes that any species at risk would move to the surrounding area, so the environmental impact would be minimal.
The developer also claims that because the blasting will be done during the day the impact of the excavation on residents will also be kept to a minimum. However, while there is no conservation law to protect the bats, the residents are hoping the planning law, which clearly states that this kind of activity is not permitted in a residential area, will protect them.
CNS Note: This story was removed from the CNS website for over two hours this morning following a telephone call from an individual claiming to represent Whiterock Investment. Althoughthe caller did not fully articulate the legal complaint he had about the article, he threatened to sue CNS as he did not like the content of the story. In order to give the caller time to clarify his exact complaint and spell out what he believed was inaccurate in writing CNS agreed to temporarily remove the article until noon. Since that commitment was made by us we have not received any written complaint specifying why the caller believes the article is incorrect.
In the interests of clarity, CNS would like to note that Whiterock insists that the application referred to in the story is not for a quarry but for a development. However, the residents who are objecting have persistently referred to the excavation as quarrying and we believe the readers can make their own judgements based on the image.
Specialist K9s begin search
(CNS): The hunt for missing landfill worker Anna Evans continued on Tuesday morning with the use of specially trained dogs, which have been brought from overseas to join the search of the landfill site and surrounding areas. Police have also released a photograph of the make and model of the cell phone Anna is believed to have had in her possession when she disappeared on Thursday. The cell phone is a black Nokia 1661 and police are appealing for anyone who may have found a telephone, similar to the one pictured to contact them on the enquiry hotline number 526-0911. Anna was last seen at the George Town landfill site around noon on 27 January, and despite the continued and intensive search, there is still no trace of Anna or her cellphone.
Yesterday, police revealed that there had been no calls so far to the hotline number from the public as they released pictures of the uniform Anna was wearing when she went missing in an effort to jog people’s memories. The deputy governor also urged all public servants to do whatever they could to care for her family and friends, assist in the search or come forward with information.
Police have widened the search beyond the landfill and nearby areas and said they were pursuing other lines of enquiry. Officers also indicated that Anna may have left the landfill at lunchtime and walked into George Town. the RCIPS is continuing to appealing for anyone who may have seen her to call the hotline.
It has now been four days since the 37-year-old landfill worker disappeared. The last reported sighting of her was around noon on Thursday, 27 January, at the dump site. When she was last seen she was wearing her official DoEH uniform, brown boots and a blue baseball cap.
Acting Superintendent Richard Barrow said police are following a number of lines of enquiry and were trying to find out if Anna did leave the site that day.
“Officers have been interviewing family members and friends, as well as viewing CCTV footage in an attempt to establish if Anna actually left the site on Thursday afternoon,” Barrows said. “That’s why today we are displaying a uniform similar to that worn by Anna when she was last seen. We hope that the picture of the uniform may jog people’s memories. We have learned that Anna often leaves the site around lunchtime and walks into George Town. We believe that Anna is a very friendly and outgoing person, and we would ask anyone who saw her or spoke to her on Thursday afternoon to get in contact with us as soon as possible.”
Despite an intensive search at the landfill site involving police, family members, community volunteers and the Red Cross, there is still no trace of Anna. Her family is being kept up to date with all developments through a dedicated police Family Liaison Officer. Barrow also raised the issue again of the rumours circulating on the local BlackBerry messaging service that he said were malicious and unhelpful.
“There have been numerous BlackBerry messages circulating – many clearly malicious and speculating about the reasons for Anna’s disappearance. We would urge anyone who has information to contact the police. This constant rumour-mongering is not helpful, either to Anna’s distraught family or to the ongoing police enquiry,” the senior cop added.
On Monday afternoon, Deputy Governor Donovan Ebanks stated that with the passage of "each minute, each hour and each day" the anxiety over Anna’s safety was heightened, as he called on the community to help.
"I would urge all public servants, and the broader community, to do whatever you can to support and care for her family and friends, assist in the search, or support those involved in it. I appeal to anyone who has information, however trivial it may seem, that could possibly assist to please provide it to the RCIPS immediately on the dedicated telephone no. 526-0911," Ebanks stated. "And finally, let us all continue to pray for Anna’s safety and reunion with her family."
The enquiry hotline number is 526-0911.
Cops challenged by robbers
(CNS): The surge in armed robberies is the biggest current challenge to law enforcement, the police commissioner has said in the wake of the publication of the latest crime statistics. During 2010 there were 64 robberies, representing an increase of over 39% on the previous year, which was already considered high. There were also another 11 attempted robberies, more than double the amount made in 2009. David Baines said the robberies were being committed by a variety of offenders from desperate drug users taking wild risks to properly organised bank robbers, making it difficult to solve the crimes. Even in the face of a $50k reward, the police received no calls or information from the public in connection with that particular bank robbery.
Although the RCIPS has been able to claim success in 2010 in stemming the unprecedented surge of gang related shootings and murders, at the beginning of 2010 the robberies are placing new pressures on the service as it struggles to get a handle on what has become a more than weekly event.
With five robberies occurring in the first month of 2011, the average trend of more than one armed robbery occurring in Grand Cayman each week appears to be continuing. Despite the efforts of the police, who have managed to charge ten offenders for 13 crimes, more than 50 remain unresolved, leaving a significant number of armed and violent robbers still targeting fast food venues, liquor stores, gas stations, shops and banks.
“It’s clear that stemming the current tide of robberies does present a significant challenge. We cannot be on every street corner and we cannot predict with accuracy when and where the next offence will take place unless we get intelligence – and therein lays the greatest challenge,” Baines said at a briefing last week, where he revealed the latest crime statistics (see below).
Following the failure of a $50,000 reward to bring in any information at all on a bank robbery, he also noted that while the police had made a number of arrests in the bank cases, without evidence they were not able to bring charges.
“The reality is that we must provide sufficient evidence to support a charge and this is often a tall order for want of identification, witnesses and ‘no comment’ interviews,” Baines said.
The service is taking steps to make sure staff are sufficiently trained to maximise opportunities brought about by arrest, Baines said, and more officers are also being trained to retrieve CCTV evidence in an effort to fast track evidential opportunities, which is increasingly becoming critical in securing charges.
“You’ll be aware that the majority of our robberies last year were characterised by a threat of violence or actual violence that was wholly disproportionate to the spoils. It seems that many offenders were prepared to use firearms, an offence carrying at least a ten year prison sentence, for a few hundred dollars. Such desperate acts are often symptomatic of illicit drug users and we will be focusing proactively on the local trade that continues to flourish,” he added.
However, the commissioner stated that there was a diverse range of people committing robberies, from the highly organised three bank robberies, where the offenders left no forensic evidence, wore masks and knew exactly how to stage the hold-ups, to these random high risk hold-ups of pizza joints for a few dollars, where the offenders could be drug addicts or gang initiates.
“We also suspect that on some occasions ‘insider information’ may play a part and I encourage business owners to know their staff and vet them thoroughly. Staff also need be disciplined to understand that careless talk can render your business vulnerable,” he warned as he pointed out that some employers were not taking the necessary precautions with their staff.
“We issued advice last year to the Chamber of Commerce regarding handling cash in transit. I would hope that this was taken on board but we have still seen instances where vulnerable people have been used to transfer cash and continue to be targeted. If businesses have slack security procedures, you can guarantee that the criminal element won’t be slow in picking that up,” Baines added.
He stated that significant resources were being devoted to investigative and tackle this crime trend, and explained that police were analysing information such as the locations, victims, offenders and then deploying resources appropriately. Experienced police officers and other specialists in various police disciplines have also been enlisted to support the already overstressed resources, and all opportunities to “get in the face of known offenders” were being taken, the senior cop revealed.
“The active targeting of prolific offenders involves confronting and stop-searching suspects when seen on the streets and other tactics,” Baines said, as he added those could not all be revealed for operational purposes.
Premier thanks Cayman
(CNS): In the wake of the tragic death of his 30-year-old daughter, Tonya Yvonne Anglin, the country’s premier made a public broadcast to the nation on Monday evening offering his appreciation to the people for their show of support. McKeeva Bush spoke of the immense grief and heartache of losing a child but said throughout it all he and his family were comforted by an outpouring of love, concern and care by thousands of people from across the three Cayman Islands, from the Caribbean and the rest of the world. “This past week has seen the best of our nation’s love and character, where we put aside all differences and came together to support one another. This love and support has sustained my family and me this past week,” he said.
The full statement of appreciation from the premier:
It is with a heavy and burdened heart that I come to you today, not only as your Premier, but also as a grieving father.
As most of you will know, exactly one week ago, my dear daughter Tonya passed away. Within one hour of arriving at the hospital, my wife and I were surrounded by concerned family members, friends, colleagues and Members of the Legislative Assembly, staff and so many others of you, my fellow countrymen.
The immense grief and heartache of losing a child cannot be put into words. The shock of it all was almost more than we could bear. My wife Kerry and I, our granddaughter Zariah, our son Barry and our son-in-law Chet, and our entire family, have been left trying to cope with this.
Throughout it all, we were comforted by an outpouring of love, concern and care by thousands of people from across the three Cayman Islands, from the Caribbean and indeed from the rest of the world. During this time, I was reminded of something I’d once read:
God’s love in action is the answer to every problem. Love in action is the answer to every problem in our lives and in this world. Love in action is the force that helps us make it to today, and it’s the love that will set us free. This past week has seen the best of our nation’s love and character, where we put aside all differences and came together to support one another. This love and support has sustained my family and me this past week.
We are believers in the Bible as the holy word of God and it tells us that He is our refuge and strength, and that we should at all times lean on Him and not on our own understanding. We (Kerry and I) always thought that she was ours to keep forever. But allow me to share with you a poem which was sent to usduring this past week by two friends. This poem has provided me with another perspective.
The Child
“I’ll lend you for a little time
A child of mine,” He said,
“For you to love the while she lives
And mourn for when she’s dead.
It may be six or seven years,
Or twenty-two and three,
But will you, till I call her back,
Take care of her for Me?
She’ll bring her charms to gladden you
And shall her stay be brief,
You’ll have her lovely memories
As solaces for your grief.”
“I cannot promise she will stay,
Since all from earth return,
But there are lessons taught down there
I want this child to learn
I’ve looked the wide world over
In my search for teachers true
And from the throngs that
Crowd life’s lanes
I selected you
Now will you give her all your love
Nor think the labour in vain,
Nor hate me when I come to call
And take her back again?
I fancied that I heard them say:
“Dear Lord, Thy will be done!”
For all the joy thy child shall bring,
The risk of grief we’ll run.
We’ll shelter her with tenderness,
And love her while we may,
And for the happiness we’ve known
Forever grateful stay:
But shall the angels call for her
Much sooner than we’ve planned,
We’ll brave the bitter grief that comes,
And try to understand
I thought this was such an appropriate reminder that when God speaks, His will must be done. I believe that all of us as parents want the best for our children. My advice to all parents is that we have to believe and honour God first, and then carry out our responsibility to be good parents, even when unpopular with our children.
As a young child, I heard a scripture from my aunt, a great Christian lady, who was leading a prayer meeting – this scripture left an indelible impression on my life. It became our family scripture and guided me as a parent and in our grief, I commend it to you. It is Deuteronomy 1-10; I will read to you verses 6 through 9:
And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sitttest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.
To all of you, both here and overseas, all who reached out to us with your thoughts and prayers, those who sent messages of courage, faith, hope and encouragement, to those who sent food, sent flowers, and those who visited us to give us the comfort that only good friends can give – my family and I sincerely thank you for your genuine support during our time of grief. We ask that you continue to lift us up in your prayers. We also ask that you remember all others who are mourning the loss of loved ones, continue to pray for them, as we will be doing the same.
Thank you, thank you all and may God bless you and your families. Good evening.
PI removal questioned by lawyer
(CNS): Recent changes to the Criminal Procedure Code will, among a number of things, remove the right of people accused of serious crimes to seek a preliminary inquiry (PI) before their case is committed to the Grand Court. Speaking in the Legislative Assembly earlier this month, Attorney General Sam Bulgin said the move would speed up the course of justice and that it had support from the profession. However, one local attorney thinks differently and has noted that the decision has been made without a proper survey of how many cases are thrown out after a PI. Peter Polack has written to the governor pointing out that over a five year period some 15 cases of gun related crimes never made the grand court as a PI revealed that there was not enough evidence against the accused.
Polack is particularly concerned as a recent FOI request he made to the Legal Department requesting details of preliminary inquiries over a three year period was refused on the grounds that it would constitute “an unreasonable diversion of resources” because the officer would have to search manually for the information.
It is apparent, therefore, Polack told CNS, that the department has never completed a proper review of the outcome of preliminary enquiries relating to category A offences to ascertain whether their removal would be a good of bad thing.
Long form and short form PIs were carried out in the Summary Court and would see the prosecution place its evidence before the magistrate by calling witnesses to the court. The idea was that the magistrate would then make a decision to commit the case to Grand Court or to throw the case out. Polack says he is concerned now that more innocent people may be forced to face long and difficult trials.
Polack added that, in his own experience, here in Cayman there are very few long form preliminary inquiries, which tend to clog the system, and most take a short form, so, he said, their removal will do little to speed up the administration of justice.
The new amendment to the criminal procedure code will replace the PI with a ‘sufficiency trial’ in the Grand Court, where the evidence will be submitted in written form. Speaking in the LA earlier this month, the AG said that innocent people would still have a chance to be heard, but Pollack argues that there are real concerns about the preliminary inquiry’s removal.
“The inherent danger is that anyone charged with this type of offence (Category A) has no remedy where there is no cogent or slim evidence and are forced into long and damaging trials,” Pollack said.
Polack also noted that the rejection of fifteen firearms cases alone should be enough to sound the warning that removing the PI could see people committed to Grand Court trial on little evidence. The attorney points out that with the implementation of modern human rights provisions for the Cayman Islands next year, this amendment goes against the spirit and direction of those rights.
“As the chief justice recently stated, legislative reform cannot be the only response to crime and that a raft of legislative reforms was being used to respond to the crime crisis,” Polack said in a letter to the governor, as he urged the UK government to consider the importance of the preservation of the preliminary inquiry for the local justice system.
The amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code will see a number of other changes, including the downgrading of some offences from Category B to C, allows the crown to join summary offences with grand court offences and abolishes the rule prohibiting murder to be charged with any other indictment.
Couple found safe after woman falls overboard
(CNS): A man and woman who went missing off a pleasure boat earlier this evening have turned up safe and well in Snug Harbour and the search and rescue operation launched to look for them has been called off. The vessel had been travelling from Kaibo to Safe Haven but along the way it was discovered that the two people were missing. The police were called about 7:55pm tonight and the RCIPS Air Operations Unit and Joint Marine Unit vessel Typhoon (left) were immediately deployed to commence a search of the North Sound. Around 9.50 pm tonight police received a report that a man and a woman had called at a residence in the Snug Harbour area asking for assistance.
Tired and wet, they said that the woman had fallen overboard from the boat and her husband had jumped into the water to help her. When they realised that the boat was not turning around they both swam to shore.
Police and ambulance attended the location and confirmed that the couple were safe and well. They did not require any medical attention. The boat, and the remaining passengers, are on their way back to Safe Haven.
Still no trace of Anna
(CNS): Update Saturday 5:30pm – The RCIPS said that police officers and volunteers continued a search of the landfill site today (Saturday 29 January) for Anna Evans, who has been missing for two days. Periphery areas such as dyke roads to the rear of the landfill (bordering Camana Bay) and towards Industrial Park were also covered, police said. Her home address and the area surrounding her home were also searched as part of the ongoing enquiry, but as yet no trace of Anna has been found. The enquiry into her disappearance is continuing. Anyone with information which could assist in tracing Anna is asked to call the dedicated telephone number 526 0911.
On Friday police said that BBM messages circulating round the islands suggesting that the body of Anna Evans, who has been missing since mid-day yesterday, has been found are false. "These insensitive and inaccurate messages have resulted in numerous calls to Anna’s family from people asking for confirmation. The calls are obviously causing the family members some distress," a police spokesperson said.
She said the search for Anna is ongoing and that she has not been found. If there are any significant developments to report the information will be relayed through the normal channels to the media and public.
Friday evening police said that the search for at the landfill site was being scaled down and that police and volunteers would leave the site around 6:00pm that night.
Thirty-seven-year-old Anna Evans was last seen by her cousin at the George Town landfill, where they both work, sometime between 11.45am and 12 noon Thursday, 27 January,) and has not been seen since. When Anna, a director of wagons at the landfill site, did not meet up with her work colleagues at the end of her shift yesterday (around 4:30pm) they became concerned for her safety and well-being. Friends and family members conducted some local enquiries, but when it became apparent to them that no one knew where Anna was, they contacted the police at around 6:10pm last night.
At a media briefing Friday morning at the RCIPS Command Unit, which is currently located at the landfill site, Acting Superintendent Richard Barrow said that shortly after the police received the missing person report they also received a report of an ongoing disturbance at the home of the missing person in July Street. Police attended and found that her husband had been assaulted by a group of about ten people. He was taken to hospital, where he is currently detained with facial injuries. His condition is stable but Barrow stressed that, contrary to media reports, Anna’s husband has not been arrested by police.
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Police have conducted various enquiries in an attempt to trace Anna, Barrow said. They are interviewing family members and friends to try and ascertain her movements over the past few days and they are working closely with staff at the landfill site to search the area where she was last seen. (Right: police officers at Anna Evans’ home in July Street Thursday night – photo by Dennie Warren Jr))
Police arrived at the site around 10:00pm Thursday night and overnight worked alongside Anna’s family, friends and around 200 volunteers to search the landfill site. Superintendent Barrow thanked those volunteerswho came out last night and said their assistance in covering a vast area of the site was invaluable.
He said the RCIPS also deployed the police helicopter to search the area, using heat seeking equipment. The search was called off around 4:00am and early Friday morning the helicopter undertook a sweep of the area.
Police were working with volunteers – Red Cross, cadets, members of the community, and many of our special constables – in a continuation of the search, and the Marine Unit would also be searching the shore areaat the rear of the landfill site, Barrow said.
So far no further sightings of Anna have been reported. She is described as 5’7 " in height, dark complexion, slim build.
When she arrived for work Thursday she was wearing blue denim jeans and a dark jacket. She was carrying a black and white handbag. On arrival at work she changed into her uniform – grey pants and a grey and orange shirt.
The RCIPS has set up a dedicated telephone number for any information regarding Anna’s disappearance. That number is 526 0911.
Updates will be provided as and when available. (Below: the scene at the dump Thursday night – photo by Dennie Warren Jr)
CUC blast victim flown to Miami
(CNS): Update Saturday 3:00pm — One of the two men injured in Friday afternoon’s explosion at CUC on Sparky Drive, George Town, 26-year-old Kurt Scott, was airlifted to Miami early Saturday morning for medical treatment. A CUC spokesperson said he remains in critical but stable condition. A CUC representative is accompanying him and his family members will be joining him later today (Saturday 29 January). A second CUC employee injured in the blast, 53-year-old Arney Ebanks, continues to be treated at the George Town hospital, where he is listed in stable condition. Both men suffered burn injuries following the explosion at around 12:30pm Friday in one of the 9 MW Diesel Generators at the North Sound plant, which damaged one engine.
However, Grand Cayman’s power company maintains this has not affected its ability to meet customer demand.
President and CEO Richard Hew said, “The CUC family wishes both of our colleagues the very best as they recover from this incident. Our thoughts and prayers are with them and their families. I would like to thank the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service, the Emergency Services, the staff at George Town Hospital and indeed the CUC employees and other members of the public who assisted during the emergency and who continue to provide well wishes and support to the injured and their families.”
CUC will continue to regularly monitor the condition of both employees and will provide updates as appropriate.
Investigations into the cause of the accident are ongoing. (Photo below by Dennie Warren Jr)
Police recover loaded gun following pursuit
(CNS): A 26-year-old man has been arrested after police officers recovered a loaded handgun. Police say that in the early hours of yesterday morning (Thursday 27 January) officers from the Uniform Support Group, Drugs and Serious Crime Task Force and the Air Operations Unit mounted an operation in the Red Bay area. About 12:50pm that day, officers involved in the operation attempted to stop a vehicle close to Grand Harbour. The vehicle failed to stop and drove off at speed but the driver abandoned the car a short distance away and ran from the scene.
Officers gave chase and arrested him nearby. They subsequently searched a nearby house and recovered a loaded handgun from the exterior of the premises.
The man is currently detained on suspicion of various driving and firearms offences.
Cruise ship dock for Brac
(CNS): Plans have been submitted for phase one of a marina and cruise ship dock on the northwest of Cayman Brac. If passed by the Development Control Board, phase one will involve the excavation of 258,000 cubic yards of fill to make a 25 foot deep trench, which is intended at a later stage to be a marina for small boats. Future phases of the plans, submitted by Scotts Development, include a hotel, condominiums, a gas station, commercial stalls and restaurants, as well as a 940-foot extension to the existing jetty to accommodate cruise ships. (Left: the existing jetty, known as Scotts Dock)
The future marina would not be open to the sea in this initial stage of the development. The fill extracted to make it would be used for later phases and not moved elsewhere, according to the plans, which call for the development of the area around Cemetery Pier, also known as Scotts Dock.
While Dervyn Scott of Scott Development said he was reluctant to talk to the media until the plans were passed, he has said that he had been talking to developersabout building a seven-storey hotel at this location.
At the Cayman Business Outlook conference at the Ritz-Carlton last week, Premier McKeeva Bush said that the same group of Chinese developers interested in developing a channel in the North Sound to facilitate mega yachts had also discussed other projects, including development of a cruise pier and related facilities in Cayman Brac, the development of a pier and related facilities near to the Cayman Turtle Farm in West Bay, major road works in the eastern districts of Grand Cayman, and enhancements to the airports both in Grand Cayman and Cayman Brac.
However, the previous tourism minister, Charles Clifford, told CNS last year after Bush had pronounced his support for the idea of a cruise dock for the Brac at the 2010 CBO, that during their administration the PPM had looked at all angles of the cruise ship business for the Brac and concluded that the cost of building berthing facilities, which would run to about $100 million, was not viable.
Clifford said that the PPM had many discussions with the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA), but the feedback was that therewere serious issues with bringing cruise tourism to Cayman Brac. Because of the narrow shape of the island and the way the island lies, at a north-northeast south-southwest angle, and with the winds predominantly from the north east, the weather conditions on both the north and the south sides were challenging more often than not. Because of the weather conditions, it would have to be a substantial investment and they estimated the cost involved to be in the region of $100 million, which the cruise lines were not prepared to invest.
In addition, when they considered the size of the population, which is about 1,800, against the average size of the cruise ships, this would not work. “Most cruise ships have 2,000 plus passengers. This would be like 80,000 passengers arriving on Grand Cayman. The population could not cope,” Clifford said at the time.
The previous administration had also considered the smaller cruise ships with 250 to 350 passengers. “There are not a lot operating and typically they have two to three week trips,” he said. The PPM looked at whether berthing facilities for the smaller cruise ships could work. However, because of the infrequency of the visits, they also ruled this out.
“We also considered how beneficial it was to Cayman Brac and how many business people would invest in an occasional visit with only a couple of hundred passengers passing through a month,” he said. “The whole issue required considerable thought,” Clifford noted, and said their conclusions were that having cruise ships stop at Cayman Brac was not feasible.
However, the former tourism minister said they did look at day trips to the Brac, in which passengers docking at Grand Cayman would be sold deluxe day-trip packages, which would include flight on the Cayman Express. The Cayman Airways Twin Otters have the capacity to fly more frequently – which might mean hiring more crew – and the planes could bring as many as 40 passengers in a day, Clifford said, adding that the PPM believed that this idea (which was originally proposed by the previous UDP government) offered the best opportunities for Cayman Brac businesses.
“Up to the time we left office, we were looking at how to make that work and that was the direction we were heading,” he said, saying that was the way the PPM believed that the Brac people would benefit the most from cruise tourism, and the FCCA had like the idea.