It appears that the ugly word "growth" has again taken centre stage in Cayman politics. Of course, as a word on its own "growth" doesn't have any negative connotations; however, when applied to what has happened in Cayman during the past 40 years it has taken on that colouring.

Let's take a look - again - at the ecological and social consequences that uncontrolled growth has had on the island in the past three decades: major habitat destruction, gridlock and chaos on the roads, a filled-up landfill and almost no recycling, species loss, no workable public transit, over-building, and huge power bills (no alternative energy) - to name but a few ecological problems. The social consequences have resulted in more poverty than we care to see, and human resource difficulties that have led to finger-pointing as to who exactly is to blame for the so-called professional inequities. The latest result is the rollover policy, and now the spectre of marriages of convenience - and the finger-pointing again: "It's your fault!"

Now members of the PPM are finally jumping on the rollercoaster that we started many moons ago and that we seem incapable of stopping.

First, let's look at the Hon. Alden Mclaughin's comments of a couple of weeks ago. Speaking on 7 August at a PPM National Council Meeting, as reported in the Net News, Mr McLaughlin accurately described Cayman's growth as "fast" and linked it to social problems. "Cayman has, for many years, been in a difficult position," he said. "We have grown so fast that we are incapable of producing ourselves in adequate numbers" to keep pace with the growth.

PPM "not prepared to stymie development"

In answer to a question from the floor, he described some of that growth and the ills that come with it, and then posed the question: "Is the PPM prepared to stymie development? No. The consequences of turning off the tap are too grave," he said. "We have not got a mandate to turn off the tap. No one in this country wants to earn less or have less opportunities for their children."

The Net News reported that another speaker from the floor then said, "We must begin to look at growth management. The rollover is needed but it is not going to solve the problem."

Assuring the audience that societal ills were being addressed, Mr McLaughlin said, "The rollover is but one measure of doing something to control the number of immigrants and the effect that has on our culture." The story went on to report that Mr McLaughlin spoke extensively about the "culture" and "economic growth" aspects of managing the Islands' immigration problems and reforming the Immigration Law.

"'The economy is important in this exercise," he said, adding that the review team had spent 10 months trying to find a way for the economy to continue to work and thrive even with the changes. He also stressed the necessity of supporting all aspects of Cayman's culture.

Mr McLaughlin said that he was once asked, "What culture does Cayman have to protect anyway?" and in response he said, "It's those same value systems that were so attractive to in the first place" that made Cayman a place people wanted to stay.

The Net News reports that this comment was met with loud applause and Mr McLaughlin continued, "If we simply allow others to say to us what we ought to say and how we ought to say it, the Cayman value systems will be for naught. This Government is not prepared to say that our value systems are for naught. It is not going to happen. Not on our watch."

Development plan soon come

Enter the Leader of Government Business, the Hon. Kurt Tibbetts, at the PPM's weekly news briefing - this one just a couple of days after the original growth story hit the media - where he told the media, again as reported in the Net News, that managing Cayman's growth had nothing to do with stopping growth. "The Growth Management Process is about planning for sustainable development," he said.

The story continued: "According to Mr Tibbetts, the Central Planning Authority (CPA) is now in the process of reviewing the Islands' long-time Development Plan document as the Government begins to consider how Cayman's growth is to be managed. He said that the Cabinet should have the CPA's review 'in just a few weeks'.

"He said that in 1997 a Development Plan was created - a document for which the accompanying law stipulated that the plan should be reviewed every five years and explained that in 2001, as required, while he was in Government, he began the review - scheduled for completion in 2002 as required by the Law."

That plan was torn up by the UDP government, so we have been without a plan for 10 years, though the current review should be completed by next year, Mr Tibbetts explained. He pointed out that the Development Plan had to address both physical planning and economic development. "'Included in the terms of reference for the review is not only physical planning but sustainable development,' he said, adding that sustainable development was the link to growth management."

So, the message coming from the PPM leaders is that we're not going to stop growth, we are going to make it sustainable. We cannot afford to stop it, as we rely on it for our economic well-being, and to pay for our kids' education and future prospects. Hmmmmmm.

What is sustainability?

Okay, let's take a look at that word "sustainable" which gets bandied around so much these days.

Webster's Dictionary has the following definition: Capable of being sustained ... a: relating to or being a method of harvesting or using a resource so that the resource is not depleted or permanently damaged. b: of or relating to a lifestyle involving sustainable methods.

Let's apply that to what has happened to Cayman ecologically in the past 40 years. In 1970, the entire West Bay peninsula had an active and well-integrated ecological system of mangroves, sandy beach and North Sound estuarine-type habitat. There were a couple of small hotels on Seven Mile Beach near George Town, and a few homes. Now almost the entire peninsula has been built over, and apart from the Barkers National Park, I predict that by 2010 there will be virtually none of the original habitat left.

That is not ecologically sustainable.

On the other hand, if you want to mis-apply the word "sustainable" to the kind of growth we have endured - not to mention its consequences - then I suppose continuing to concrete over habitat wherever you see it is sustainable construction. It keeps everybody working, and it makes sure there will be plenty of continuing immigration problems as we continue to hire people to build ever more condos, hotels, subdivisions and shopping malls.

Now, a quick look at "growth management". Anybody who has flown over Europe or North America has seen from the air how towns and cities STOP at a specific point on the landscape. Then come the green spaces of natural environment or agricultural land. In the UK the Green Belt was instigated following the Second World War, after many years of debate. If you have a great deal of money and the right political contacts, you can "beat" the Green Belt and put in a new subdivision or two. But it takes a long time, and there is a great deal of opposition, as people have grown used to the privilege and pleasure of living in a rural environment.

Oregon a good example

In the US, growth management became a key word in the West in the 1980s and 1990s, although the northeastern part of that country has long instigated regulations similar to those found in the UK.

Perhaps the most successful recent example of growth management in the US is the state of Oregon and its capital, Portland. There, despite serious battles in the past couple of decades, lines were drawn on the map and urban sprawl was simply not permitted beyond those lines. In addition, urban mass transit was expanded so people could move around without their vehicles. You can find out more on the Web at http://www.oregon.gov/LCD/TGM/.

That is what has to happen in Cayman if we are to retain any of our green space, our wildlife and the rural quality of what is left. I sincerely hope that our development plan takes all of these things into account, and isn't just a mishmash of what has happened in the past 40 years.

But what about our commissions? I can hear the realtors screaming. Let me tell you that realtors in areas where growth management has worked effectively do just fine. They now sell quality over quantity, and get big bucks for it. Anyone who has looked at property prices in the northeastern US or the rural areas of the UK recently will confirm this.

Once the postwar reconstruction of Germany and the UK was completed, the American construction workers brought in under the Marshall Plan went home. The local ones changed their professions or turned their attention to maintenance and reconstruction of existing buildings.

We do not need to keep up the insane pace of the past few decades. There really are alternatives.

Thank you for your e-mails. I would encourage everyone who feels strongly enough to contact the Hornet to send their opinions to the local news media as well. If you wish to contact the Green Hornet directly, you can e-mail me at: caymanhornet@yahoo.com. All messages will be treated confidentially.