Little Cayman Plight
On Tuesday, the 23rd ofMay, the faith of the Baby Sister of the three princesses whichmake up the Cayman Islands - Little Cayman - rests in the handsof an Appeals Tribunal.
The members of thetribunal for the Sister Islands will listen to arguments in supportof and against plans for the Government to construct a hard surfacerunway - some say capable of accommodating Jet aircraft traffic,on this last remaining island, which has so far managed to escapethe wide-spread commercial quests of the Cayman Islands that 'timeforgot.'
Little Cayman today, represents what Cayman as Paradise usedto be. At the forefront of the Appeal against the Planning Authority'sapproval, are some long term residents of all three islands -including two well-respected lawyers. They have seen the biggestsister - Grand Cayman fall to the pursuit of developers who havebut one purpose - unbridled construction - such which is now beingwitnessed on the main island.
The temperate tranquility of Little Cayman, continues to be therefuge of many successful Caymanian and overseas investors anddevelopers, who have also built condominium apartments and cottagesfor sale over there. In recent years, several large tracts ofland have also been cut up into house lots and sold to Grand Caymanresidents and visitors.
With an approximate count of 125 permanent residents, the BabyPrincess island welcomes a similar amount of visitors other 'stay-over'tourists on most weekends, retreat from the commercialism whichnow permeates Grand Cayman. Now, with the encouragement of developers,Government has agreed to construct an airstrip - to replace theexisting grassy one which has served Little Cayman over 20 years.
"The ambience of Little Cayman cannot be found on CaymanBrac and Grand Cayman" said a realtor from Grand Cayman whoknows Little Cayman quite well. "The only thing that a pavedrunway could bring to this island", he says, "is a lotof pressure on the people who live there to support an economythat they do not want. There is no infrastructure to support apaved runway". He continued "Look at Grand Cayman -what has been allowed to happen here has weakened our abilityto cope with the un-checked development now taking place. At whatprice ... and who will pay for the resulting crush of visitorsand investors to Little Cayman?"
He asks: "Where are the people going to come from to servicethis rushed growth that some special interests group want forLittle Cayman".
It is understood that Island Air, the commuter airline servingthe Sister Islands has made over 40,000 landings on Little Caymanover the past 20 years. How do they feel about the advent of anew paved airstrip? "We do not support it" says a principalof the carrier. "We are quite comfortable with the runwayas it is - even though it is higher on maintenance for our two-aircraftoperation."
"We would like to upgrade our 17-seater Navajo's for 36 seaterTwin Otters. With this type of equipment, we will be able to providemore seats than the four round trips we now provide." Hesaid that with this type of equipment, it may not be necessaryfor Cayman Airways' 125- seater jets to fly in to Cayman Bracwith sometimes as little as seven passengers on a double rotation- two round trips daily. This will also allow Government to stoppaying out the almost $2 million they now do to subsidise theSister Islands trip to and from Grand Cayman.
Another strong argument put forward by objectors to the constructionof the Little Cayman proposed runway, is that Cayman Brac alreadyhas an international standard airport - and is just six minutesor so in airtime from Little Cayman. As a matter of fact, oneLittle Cayman land owner, who has property next to another tractof Crown land near Point of Sand, which was being considered fora new airstrip - confirms that one can see Little Cayman fromthe Airport Tower on Cayman Brac.
So why then the drive to get a new airstrip on Little Cayman?
It has been suggested that an Airport Operating Certificate (AOC)was sought last year by Sister Islands businessmen who own landin the areas surrounding the proposed airstrip - with close connectionsto Cayman Airways and the Central Government - to operate anothercommuter air service between all three of the islands. This applicationwas subsequently denied by the Civil Aviation Authorities (CAA).
Another unresolved issue is also the demands being made by Governmentto Island Air for settlement of landing fees on Cayman Brac andLittle Cayman. The operators claim that they had a firm commitmentfrom the Minister with responsibility for CAA, that Island Airwill be given exempt status from paying landing fees for theirregularly scheduled flights. "We continue to pay landingfees for charter flights. We want to be on a level playing fieldwith Cayman Airways which does not pay landing fees to Government."We provide a necessary service to the public - not any subsidy",emphasised an Island Air Director.
The Island Air executive also points out that in nearby Jamaicaand other jurisdictions throughout the world, internal commutersdo not pay landing fees for service within their own boundaries.Governments view this service as a necessity for their populationsconvenience.
One Grand Cayman resident and realtor who owns property on LittleCayman, where he intends to retire "in a few years"told Cayman Net News: "The present airstrip is near a birdsanctuary, the area proposed for building another runway is afar more delicate bird sanctuary ... as a matter of fact, thewhole of Little Cayman is a sanctuary for all of us who want toescape the construction madness of Grand Cayman. To encouragefurther waste to the last remaining area we are left with to treasure... will be lost forever into some people's pockets."
One of the strategies agreed on by the team which spent many monthswhile putting together the strategies for the future of LittleCayman during the development of the country's Vision 2000 Plan- was that the present airstrip will be maintained, in order topreserve (discourage) any rapid escalation in development.
If Government proceeds with its plan to put down another airstripon Little Cayman, this will no doubt be another world record ofsorts, even if the grass one now being used is closed down - therewill be four airport runways to serve just three islands.
While the nearby 5 acre Owen Island, just about 400 yards fromLittle Cayman has been secured by Government to preserve its virginity,the de-flowering of Little Cayman will proceed wantonly, if theproposed airstrip proceeds.