-hh
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In other words, the Cayman Government has taken another step to destroy
what until recently had been the last protected wetlands on the entire island:
Cayman Brac 'dying on its feet' :: cayCompass.com
Not any surprise - - politically, the "Fix Was In" a few years ago for this to happen. Unfortunately, this is just the way that local politics work in the Caymans and part of the reason why we won't invest any more money in the country.
IMO, here's how this is going to go down:
1. they'll dredge the 'pond' and everyone will conveniently forget that the Crown owns the fill being removed. It will instead go into someone's pocket. I'd not be surprised if the Govt kicks in money, but I suspect this one will be done privately.
2. They'll wait a year, then claim that the deepened pond does not alleviate the smell, and push again for the marina and opening up to the sea. The Dept of Environment in Grand has been removed from review authority, so they'll get it approved this time.
3. Raymond Scott Construction will get a cut of the contracts, since he's not getting his proposed Marina. The Government probably will be paying for sure.
4. There will be talk of another dive operation in the new marina. This all threatens Moses's businesses, so he will need to get his cut somehow.
5. In the meantime, over at the airport, they will have bought new aircraft to "replace" the Twin Otters that currently service the Brac. They also will have had upgraded to permit international service. BUT those new small aircraft have much better flying range than the Otter, and more than what's needed to go to/from Grand Cayman ... golly, why would this be? Well, they're not really to help the Brac, but to open up new service for Caymanians to fly to Cuba and Honduras, which is ZERO help to the tourism industry.
6. Similarly, notice how nothing's been said about the old Divi property? Its waterfront and already has an anchorage sitting fallow. The political move here is probably going to be a bit more letting it "fester"; it will be declared a Public Nuisance and hazard, at
which point the Government may try an 'Eminent Domain' move ... this property will be handed over to the Developer who is highest political favor - that had been DART, although I've not kept track of if they're in with the current political party, or if it will have to
wait for the next election.
-hh
what until recently had been the last protected wetlands on the entire island:
Cayman Brac 'dying on its feet' :: cayCompass.com
Not any surprise - - politically, the "Fix Was In" a few years ago for this to happen. Unfortunately, this is just the way that local politics work in the Caymans and part of the reason why we won't invest any more money in the country.
IMO, here's how this is going to go down:
1. they'll dredge the 'pond' and everyone will conveniently forget that the Crown owns the fill being removed. It will instead go into someone's pocket. I'd not be surprised if the Govt kicks in money, but I suspect this one will be done privately.
2. They'll wait a year, then claim that the deepened pond does not alleviate the smell, and push again for the marina and opening up to the sea. The Dept of Environment in Grand has been removed from review authority, so they'll get it approved this time.
3. Raymond Scott Construction will get a cut of the contracts, since he's not getting his proposed Marina. The Government probably will be paying for sure.
4. There will be talk of another dive operation in the new marina. This all threatens Moses's businesses, so he will need to get his cut somehow.
5. In the meantime, over at the airport, they will have bought new aircraft to "replace" the Twin Otters that currently service the Brac. They also will have had upgraded to permit international service. BUT those new small aircraft have much better flying range than the Otter, and more than what's needed to go to/from Grand Cayman ... golly, why would this be? Well, they're not really to help the Brac, but to open up new service for Caymanians to fly to Cuba and Honduras, which is ZERO help to the tourism industry.
6. Similarly, notice how nothing's been said about the old Divi property? Its waterfront and already has an anchorage sitting fallow. The political move here is probably going to be a bit more letting it "fester"; it will be declared a Public Nuisance and hazard, at
which point the Government may try an 'Eminent Domain' move ... this property will be handed over to the Developer who is highest political favor - that had been DART, although I've not kept track of if they're in with the current political party, or if it will have to
wait for the next election.
-hh