EDITORIAL
Measured Development plan needed in Cayman
Friday, July 30, 2004
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Reader comments:
- Interesting editorial. I am currently building a small cottage out at
High Rock. The idea of reviewing development plans in terms of overall
benefit to the people of Cayman hit home, as I live in Naples Florida and we
have experienced the same type of mega growth in the last twenty years. The
building of large houses on small lots with almost no green space means that
some day, this wonderful formerly small town will look like Miami. No one in
their right mind would want that to happen, but the political folks love the
taxes that pour in and love to approve just about any development. Cayman is
truly a unique place, but if the local population doesn't eventually exert
some control over the process, you will end up with an island that is paved
over with hotels and tourist attractions that will drastically change your
homeland forever, not always in the positive way you might wish. I look
forward to spending some time out at High Rock and East End, and will work
at being a good neighbor - The Trapper, Naples, Florida
- Yes! Yes! It's not too late! The people of Grand Cayman can still exert
control over this issue...believe me, there WILL come a time when tourists
will no longer spend big money to come, when the island becomes something
not too different than anywhere else. I would hate to see this happen to
such a rare and special place. As a non-citizen of Cayman I guess I'm
limited in what I can do, but my prayers are with the people of Cayman.
Protect your heritage and you protect tourism at the same time. More is not
better. It's still not too late - Rexanne Evans, Sherman Oaks, CA
- THANK YOU! Someone finally has it! This is what we have been saying for
the last 5 years. Will the "powers that be" heed this warning?
Unfortunately, I don't think so. They are too near sighted. We will be
saying "We told you so" in the not so distant future - Nancy Peters
- Whilst these issues are worth commenting upon, you are unfortunately
some 20 to 25 years too late. The concept of planned development was needed
years ago - before West Bay Road became Main Street, USA - Anonymous
- Okay, it would have been ideal for folks to have thought this way 25
years ago but people often do not foresee things like this coming. Is the
glass half empty or half full? On my last visit to Cayman I still found much
of the charm of the island intact, while hotels (yikes! the Ritz Carlton,
what a monster) seem to be growing like the flame trees I so love. You know
what, it's never too late. People of Cayman, whom I know to have great
faith, pray about this issue. Where does it lead you and what do you want
for your future? I say it's not too late - Rexanne Evans, Sherman Oaks,
CA
- Don't think this has gone unnoticed by
Caymanians. We are alarmed at the uncontrolled development of the Cayman
Islands, and indeed we always ask: "Who are we developing for?" We have to
import laborers to work on the construction sites and import workers to
staff the business place when it’s completed. The buildings rob us of our
indigenous trees, etc. The infrastructure becomes more congested and the
quality of life in Cayman takes yet another downward turn… all in the name
of development.
Yes, we have more roads, more hotels & supermarkets & banks. On the other
hand, we are fast becoming an over crowded island, we have the lower paid
population crowding into cramped lived quarters to save rent money. This
overcrowding breeds disease. We now have more sicknesses than ever in
Cayman, as more people are crammed together, violating every known tenet of
public health.
Yet, this is progress. This is development. We have no time for our
neighbour, oft times we do not even know who our neighbour is. And they call
this progress. Stop the madness. Slow down or the tourists will run away to
find the peaceful way of life that attracted them to Cayman in the first
place - Juice
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