🏝️ Cayman Islands National Trust urges government to limit population growth instead of expanding port

The National Trust for the Cayman Islands (NTCI) has called on the local government to consider limiting population growth, rather than building a new cargo port to cater to a projected population of 250,000 by 2084. The Trust argued that such a population increase would overwhelm the local Caymanian community, which currently makes up less than half of the island's population. Consultants have suggested that the government should start planning for a new cargo dock and expand the existing one in the George Town Harbour and the Cargo Distribution Centre. This, they argue, would allow for the management of estimated population growth over the next 15 years, which is projected to reach 133,000. 📈

However, the Trust has proposed that rather than just upgrading the existing dock to accommodate a population of 133,000, the government should aim to maximize its utility so it can handle a population of 150,000 and take steps to limit the population to this figure. They also expressed concerns about relocating the cargo port to a new location, particularly at Breakers quarries, due to potential environmental damage and additional burden on infrastructure. The Trust has called for a cautious, data-driven approach to port expansion, including an Environmental Impact Assessment before any construction begins. 🚧

NTCI Chairperson Melanie Carmichael emphasized the need for full transparency in the process and suggested that the population scenarios considered for the port should be applied across all government projects. This includes development planning, waste management, and transport to ensure a more correlated approach to these large capital projects, which will have a significant environmental, social, and economic impact on the islands. 🏗️