🌳 Premier's ambiguous stance on National Conservation Act changes

Premier Juliana O’Connor-Connolly has assured the public that scientists will not be removed from the National Conservation Council (NCC), and the National Conservation Act (NCA) will not be weakened. However, she also announced that changes to the legislation are forthcoming, with an amendment bill expected to be revealed next week. The nature of these changes remains unclear, but the Premier has firmly stated that there are no plans to weaken the law. This comes after a series of closed-door meetings where the UPM government has been deliberating changes to the conservation law due to pressure from the development lobby. 🌳

Since the NCA's enactment, several influential landowners and developers have attempted to undermine the law's ability to protect natural resources and limit harmful forms of development. The NCA currently serves as the only tool to mitigate the impact of climate change on the Cayman Islands, as the UPM Government has not adopted the PACT Government’s Climate Change Policy. The Premier's ambiguous stance on the NCA changes has raised concerns among environmentalists and climate scientists, who stress the need for robust legislation to mitigate against the effects of climate change, such as rising sea levels, floods, and hurricane impacts. 🌊

In a post-hurricane press briefing, O’Connor-Connolly reiterated that the government is not removing the scientists from the NCC or weakening the law. However, she confirmed that the law was being changed and that drafting instructions had already been sent to the Attorney General’s Chambers. She expects the CIG to have the draft bill within the next seven days. The Premier emphasized that the changes do not entail weakening the law "in any way". 📜