🚫 North Sound dredging proposal rejected

The Cabinet has turned down a controversial application by Pierce Holdings to dredge the North Sound. The company intended to use the dredged material as fill for a proposed private retirement home in West Bay. The refusal was recorded in a summary note following a Cabinet meeting on 17 October, although no specific reasons were given for the decision. However, the Department of the Environment had previously recommended against the project due to its significant negative environmental impact and the precedent it would set for developer access to fill on crown land. 📝

The Department of the Environment's review of the application stated that if a project isn't viable without destroying acres of publicly-owned natural and undisturbed seabed, it should not be approved. The review also highlighted the unjustifiable environmental effects of allowing a developer to destroy the marine environment to access cheaper fill. While this decision offers some relief to conservationists, the ongoing pressure from developers to build and adapt Grand Cayman’s coastline for commercial projects remains a significant concern. 🌊

Despite the PACT's stated sustainable agenda, the continuous approval of major projects is fueling public frustration and anger. The impact of unchecked development on the local community, coupled with the cost of living, remains a major policy issue. 🏡