LOCAL NEWS...

Dart’s hotel to go before CPA with no DoE input

Cayman News Service
15 February 2021

Hotel Indigo, which will anchor Dart’s proposed ‘new town’, will be before the Central Planning Authority (CPA) on Tuesday as a separate application, but it will not have any input from the Department of Environment because no new National Conservation Council (NCC) members have been appointed. The project comes against the backdrop of public concern about the threat the planned area development (PAD) poses to parts of the last remaining area of mangrove wetland in West Bay.

It is not clear why Cabinet has allowed the NCC membership to lapse, given that it is required to direct the DoE to give the necessary advice to the CPA on all matters relating to the National Conservation Law.

While the DoE has prepared a screening opinion, it has no ability to submit that project without the NCC first clearing it. In correspondence to planning, the department said it has been lobbying government to appoint the new council since October. DoE Director Gina Ebanks-Petrie asked the project hearing to be delayed until the NCC is appointed and allow for the screening opinion and the review of the development application to be issued in accordance with the law.

The DoE stated that to grant planning permission for the project without taking into account the views of the National Conservation Council is contrary to the law. The government agency also raised concerns about what this tells the public.

“It also sends a clear message about the Central Planning Authority’s and Planning Department’s attitude towards the environment and the wider principles of sustainable development. Sustainable development seeks to ensure that development is considered in its widest context including assessing economic, social and environmental implications. Given the lack of environmental technical expertise on the Central Planning Authority, it is unclear on what basis a decision can be reached which takes into account environmental considerations,” Ebanks-Petrie stated in her memo to the authority.

While the hotel’s location is a man-modified site, its proximity to the Public Beach and concerns about turtle nests would be important considerations. While it is unlikely the screening would recommend an environmental impact assessment for this specific project, the DoE would have likely raised questions about the hotel’s position in the context of the PAD as well.

Dart has already started some work at the site, which it said Monday was not “foundation work” as reported here earlier but test pilings to inform “foundation design” should the project be approved. Nevertheless it demonstrates the confidence the developer has in receiving planning permission.

Activists are concerned that the proposal for the larger PAD will have a very negative impact on the environment while providing almost no benefit to the majority of residents of West Bay, where the worst of the mangrove destruction will be. Vandals have already protested these plans for more development by the islands’ biggest landowner by damaging a road sign on the Esterley Tibbetts Highway.

The ten-story Hotel Indigo, which will be constructed on the plot between the Kimpton hotel and the highway, will not be a beachfront property. Its guests will have access to the beach at the former Calico Jack Beach Bar between the Kimpton beachfront and Public Beach.
Part of the PAD which Dart has now submitted an application there are numerous environmental issues including the proposal to a cut a canal under the ETH to link the new town from the North Sound canal network to Seven Mile Beach. Read the whole story here.

Leadership Cayman seminar focused on the environment

Loop Cayman
14 February 2021

The Environment was the area of focus at the Leadership Cayman seminar held on Wednesday, February 10 at the Chamber of Commerce headquarters in Governors Square.

The seminar began with an afternoon tour of the George Town Landfill guided by Michael Haworth, Assistant Director Solid Waste and Angello Roye, Acting Operations Manager at the Department of Environmental Health (DEH). 

The breakout sessions and panel discussions concentrated on the current state and environmental threats and the role that government and society should play to preserve and curtail actions which further threatens the environment. 

Seminar speakers included Gina Ebanks-Petrie, Director at the Cayman Islands Department of Environment; Claire Hughes, Founder of Plastic Free Cayman; and Catherine Childs, Education Programmes Manager at the National Trust for the Cayman Islands.

For the first time, Leadership Cayman 2020 graduates Genevieve Georgiades, Stephanie Rattan, Dana Boardsen, and Kimberly McLean organised the first seminar which was sponsored by Expertise Limited.
Cox Lumber Limited, RBC Royal Bank (Cayman) Limited and Wheaton Precious Metals are the major sponsors of the Chamber of Commerce’s six-month leadership programme.

‘Moonlight’ the turtle released into wild

Cayman Compass
9 February 2021

A green sea turtle named Moonlight is now in its forever home in the Caribbean Sea, thanks to Grade 2 students at Cayman International School.

The 2-year-old turtle, which was raised at the Cayman Turtle Centre, was released at Governor’s Beach on Friday, 29 Jan., as part of the students’ project, “How are we connected to the sea?”

“In this project, students [took] on the role of environmentalists to research and develop a sequence of public service announcements on ocean-based environmental issues,” said their teacher, Amanda Brown.

“They [completed] individual research projects and then worked in teams to combine information, connect understandings and grow ideas.” Read the whole story here.

Developers warned to maximise set-backs

Cayman News Service
9 February 2021

Location of proposed development on North West Point

Impending sea level rise and the impacts of climate change that Cayman will witness in the coming years are still not being taken seriously and the Department of Environment is warning developers that stretching set-backs to the letter of the law puts their projects at serious risk. In submissions to the Central Planning Authority for a proposed resort development on North West Point, the experts said the coastline has a history of storm surge property damage and they should not build too close to the ironshore.

The DoE has been warning even more emphatically recently that coastal set-backs should not be waived in any future developments and existing legal distances are inadequate. As a result, the developers, NWPR Group Ltd, should be maximising the distance between the properties they build and the ocean, regardless of the legal limits, and not taking them to the very limit.

In North West Point, developers are hoping to building a four-storey $12.3 million ‘condo resort’, comprising 30 apartments, a cafe, two oceanfront houses and ancillary features. Following their appearance at the CPA recently, it seems they hope to bring the development as close as possible to the ocean, ignoring the DoE’s warnings. Read the whole story here.

Nassau groupers put on a show

Cayman Compass
4 February 2021

DoE scientist, Tammi Warrender uses the stereo video device which is a long rod with a GoPro on each end to measure Nassau Groupers during the Grouper Moon. Photo: DoE

Thousands of Nassau groupers have commenced their annual spawning dance, also known as the Grouper Moon, in the pristine waters of Little Cayman.

Sunday night researchers surveying the annual event observed the first spawning at the aggregation site.

Volunteer Amanda Brown has been documenting the grouper spawning through a blog and described the sight as “incredible”.

“Bands of a dozen or so groupers shot upward in front of us, like fireworks. Each band consisted of many males pursuing a single female. The female grouper would shoot up into the water column swimming straight up to release her eggs, and several male groupers would follow, swimming in spirals around her,” she wrote.

The unique spectacle usually attracts international researchers and volunteers from the Reef Environment Education Foundation who come together for the Grouper Moon project which has been a mainstay since 2002. 

However, due to COVID-19 restrictions, the REEF team was unable to attend to participate in the monitoring and study of the Nassau grouper spawning aggregations.

But a team of Department of Environment scientists and volunteers are tracking the fishes, which are listed as threatened. Read the whole story here.

More development needed, says McLaughlin

Cayman News Service
3 February 2021

Premier Alden McLaughlin at the Chamber of Commerce Q&A

Premier Alden McLaughlin has sent a message to environmental activists and conservationists after making it clear that if his team leads the next coalition government, it will seek to keep the pace of development going. Despite clear evidence that Grand Cayman’s coastline, especially along Seven Mile Beach, is already eroding and the sea level rise threat will only get worse, he said Cayman’s economy depends on inward investment.

“Cayman continues to need further development,” McLaughlin said at a roundtable Q&A session at a Chamber of Commerce meeting last week. The premier implied that shifting Cayman away from its increasing dependence on development and construction to sustain economic growth and jobs will not happen on his watch.

Even in the face of ever-growing public concern across the Cayman Islands about the negative impact that coastal over-development is now having on the islands, the premier spelled out a bleak future for nature.

The unsustainable level of development over the last three decades, but especially post Hurricane Ivan, has fuelled a population growth that has taken a toll on all resources, especially natural ones. Development has had a terrible effect on the environment, with the subsequent shoreline erosion and the islands’ endemic, indigenous and native bio-diversity under real threat, as land is cleared of natural habitat to make way for hotels, condos, luxury homes and rental units.

However, McLaughlin raised no concerns about the environmental issues that await the entire planet, and not just vulnerable low-lying islands like Cayman, much sooner than scientists have previously predicted. Read the whole story here.

Cayman Brac Farmers enlist in Farmers’ Assistance Programme

Loop Cayman
31 January 2021

Cayman Brac farmers complete their applications for the farmers’ assistance grant

Over 70 Cayman Brac farmers turned out at the Department of Agriculture building at the Agricultural Grounds on January 21 and January 22 to apply for assistance under the Ministry of Education, Youth, Sport, Agriculture and Lands (MEYSAL) COVID 19 Farmers' Assistance Programme, increasing the current number of applications received to over 350 farmers. 

Minister of Agriculture Honourable Juliana O'Connor-Connolly expressed her delight at the turnout. "I am encouraged that so many of our local farmers have taken advantage of this opportunity to increase their capacity to yield greater quantities of high-quality produce and livestock," Minister O'Connor-Connolly stated.

Several grant recipients, including Mr. Ashton Ferguson, lauded the initiative, expressing appreciation to the Ministry of EYSAL for the opportunity to enhance their backyard farming enterprises and increase the availability of safe, nutritious food within their communities.

"I certainly believe that eating what you grow and growing what you eat creates a healthy environment and provides persons with the opportunity to provide for themselves during these uncertain times. It truly is a great initiative," Mr. Ferguson commented. Read the whole story here.

Health Ministry investigating medical waste on Cayman beaches

Loop Cayman
30 January 2021

A multi-agency team led by the Department of Health Regulatory Services (DHRS) has reached out to local registered healthcare facilities concerning the issue of medical waste found on beaches in Grand Cayman. 

At this stage of the investigation, which was requested by the Ministry of Health, Environment, Culture and Housing, registered healthcare facilities are asked to support the information gathering process that will help determine whether there is a local or international source of the waste. The investigation is currently underway and will include the Sister Islands.

Noting that reports of medical waste turning up on various public beaches across the Island have spanned many years, DHRS Director Mervyn Conolly said: “This waste poses a very serious public health concern and working group members are united in their desire to see to understand the origin of the hazardous items and resolve the issue as quickly as possible. We are confident that the public share the same desire and urge anyone who comes across medical waste in a public area to treat it with utmost caution and separate it from other waste.”

Tourism sector workers or other individuals who may have found medical waste on any beaches in the past are also asked to report their findings to the DEH customer service number. Under the current Public Health Law (2002 Revision) and the Litter Law (1997 Revision), DEH is the Government agency with sole responsibility for the collection and sanitary disposal of medical wastes generated in the Cayman Islands. Read the whole story here.

Public urged, but not helped, to recycle e-waste

Cayman News Service
22 January 2021

George Town landfill (CNS file photo)

Government officials are blaming the public for an increase in mixed waste going to the dump, which sparked two small fires there this week. Officials said that people are not separating electronics and batteries and urged them to stop mixing these items in general garbage. But unlike the recycling depots for cardboard, paper, aluminum, glass and some plastics provided at supermarkets, electronics and larger lithium batteries must be taken by members of the public to the dump.

The two separate fires, which were both likely caused by electronic waste igniting as it was compacted on the dump, were dealt with through the combined effort of the Department of Environmental Health and the Cayman Islands Fire Service.

Chief Fire Officer Paul Walker said staff at the dump had notified CIFS early on after they spotted the small surface fires, allowing crews to get to them before they became deep-seated.

“It is their diligence in the early notification, the fact these were small surface waste fires and not deep-seated veins of fire and the prompt deployment of CIFS resources and firefighting equipment that has prevented further fire spread and limited the impact of these two small fires on surrounding residents and businesses,” said Walker. “The minor excavations and damping down was precautionary and aims to reduce the chance of re-ignition from any unseen hot-spots.”

But preventing electronic fires in future may require a more concerted effort by the ministry responsible for the dump. At present, with the exception of recycling tubes at some supermarkets for small household batteries, there is nowhere for residents to take lithium and large batteries or any electronics other than the dump.

“At a mixed waste facility, there is an ever-present risk of ignition when materials are disposed of together,” officials said in a press release, pointing to the disposal of electronic items and batteries in the general garbage causing the fires at the dump.

In addition to the significant risk of ignition when compacted, as outlined by officials, e-waste is also one of the world’s fastest growing pollution problems. Read the whole story here.

COVID lockdown helped record-breaking turtle season

Cayman Compass
20 January 2021

The 2020 turtle-nesting season came to a close with a record 557 confirmed nests on Grand Cayman and Cayman Brac combined, the Department of Environment reported Tuesday.

The DoE said the high number of nests was aided by the COVID-19 lockdown early in the year which left beaches deserted for long periods of time, giving turtles the opportunity to lay their eggs unhindered.

“The season started in an unusual way, with the Cayman Islands in lockdown and beaches closed,” the DoE said in its report. “Although this presented a number of challenges for the monitoring team, it meant that nesting turtles had little to no disturbances on the beaches and this positive impact was reflected by nesting occurring in new locations.”

The 2020 lockdown helped boost numbers towards the end of the season, but the DoE said a number of tropical storms and passing hurricanes threatened nests.

“The DoE’s Turtle Team were kept very busy assessing nest safety, and where necessary, relocating nests to safer locations. Despite the team’s best efforts, high seas caused more than 30 nests to become inundated with varying impacts to the hatch, and 10 nests were completely washed away due to unpredictable and significant beach erosion during the storm season,” it said.

However, the DoE was able to relocate 53 nests to protect them from storm surges on Grand Cayman and eight were relocated on Cayman Brac. Read the whole story here.

Activists seek public opinion on environment

Cayman News Service
19 January 2021

Site in Rum Point where mangroves were cleared before planning permission given

The local activist group, Amplify Cayman, has published on online survey which it says is designed to gather data and gauge public opinion on local and global environmental issues impacting the Cayman Islands. According to a release from the campaigners, the aim is to influence candidates running for office in May to set environmental policy platforms that they would “align with the perspectives of the Cayman people”.

The survey questions are based on the guiding principles of the Cayman Islands’ Environment Charter, upheld by the Cayman Islands Constitution section 18, the release stated.

The activists said that they will collect, review, and provide resulting data to local and international stakeholders, which include the general public, non-profit organisations, private sector actors and government stakeholders.

“Globally, leaders agree that a truly sustainable recovery post COVID-19 presents the need for data-driven decisions and policies, that are centred on the overall well-being and health of a nation’s people and natural environment,” a spokesperson for the campaigners stated.

“With an election set for May 2021, it is also the hope that the results of this survey will assist candidates running for office.”

The survey, which was launched last week, is available to take online until 15 February and respondents will be eligible to win one of ten $50 grocery gift certificates.

Close encounters help change fearsome image of sharks

Cayman Compass
19 January 2021

The silhouette of a Caribbean Reef shark hovers in the sunlight as the dive boat sits at the mooring bouy. Photo: Jon Barron, Ocean Frontiers

As the group of scuba divers gathers on the sandy ocean floor, just off East End, the thick, steel-grey body of a Caribbean reef shark cuts into view.

It moves slowly and gracefully, driven by its powerful, sashaying tail.
The shark is just a few feet away from the camera’s lens when it veers upward towards the sunlight that strobes through the clear blue waters. As it moves out of the frame, another shark moves in. Soon the small dive group is swimming amid a shiver of at least seven sharks...

...This is the X-Dive, the latest innovation from Ocean Frontiers which has partnered with the Cayman Islands Shark Project and the Department of Environment to run educational dives at sites frequented by Cayman’s resident reef sharks.

It is not just about thrill-seeking, says dive operator Steve Broadbelt.

Participants are given an hour-long presentation from Shark Project researcher Johanna Kohler, where they learn about the animals and their behaviour. Read the whole story here.

Mobile battery blamed for small dump fire

Cayman News Service
18 January 2021

Item suspected to have caused the small surface fire at the dump on Monday

Officials from the Department of Environmental Health (DEH) said that a small surface fire at the landfill at around 4pm Monday was probably caused by a mobile phone battery or similar item that had been discarded in the regular waste. When operators were compacting the area and drove over the battery, it may have burst and ignited. The Cayman Islands Fire Service (CIFS) worked alongside DEH and the fire is now extinguished.

According to a release, DEH crews will continue to monitor the area throughout the night and notify CIFS immediately if any smoke is observed.

“Any kind of battery, including those found in mobile phones, pose an increased risk of combustion and should be separated from other waste materials when disposing,” said DEH Director Richard Simms. “The George Town Landfill has a designated area for batteries which we encourage the public to use.” Read the whole story here.

Beach cleaners pick up nearly 1,000lb of plastics

Cayman News Service
18 January 2021

East End Beach Clean

Volunteers removed over a 1,000lbs of garbage from Grand Cayman’s beaches, most of it plastic, in a clean-up this weekend, with teams working at Barkers Beach in West Bay and beaches in East End, according to a spokesperson for Plastic Free Cayman. As well as highlighting the major issue of marine debris, the haul of garbage collected Saturday morning revealed a local littering problem. In addition to the plastic items and micro-plastics, volunteers picked up thousands of bits of polystyrene, syringes and vials of blood.
Francella Martin, the lead organiser of the event, said these were properly disposed of, but noted that this is becoming a regular occurrence now for the beach clean-ups.

“But what was most surprising was the amount of local litter,” she said in a release about the event. “It seems that parts of East End and Barkers are becoming increasingly polluted by locals discarding bottles, cans, old appliances, diapers and cigarette butts upon our shores.” Volunteers have suggested that government puts up signs on beaches to discourage people from littering and remind them of the fines.

In his strategic policy statement in April 2019 Premier Alden McLaughlin had promised a war on litter, but almost two years later the “major anti-litter campaign” he announced has never materialised.

“We need to re-educate both locals and tourists as to what is expected from them; we need to provide better facilities for waste and, in time, for street recycling bins; and we need to look again at the litter laws and their enforcement. All three parts of this campaign are important and need to reinforce each other,” he told the then Legislative Assembly.

PFC founder Claire Hughes has continued the NGO’s campaign for a national clean-up campaign and plastic ban policy similar to those introduced on other Caribbean islands, but the government recently postponed yet another stakeholders meeting on the topic. “It is time that our government takes ownership of this important issue,” Hughes added. Read the whole story here.

Cayman: DoE reports increase in shark sightings

Loop Cayman
16 January 2021

The Department of Environment (DoE) has received recent reports of an increase in the sightings of sharks in the vicinity of the Sandbar, North Sound.

The DoE is advising the public that sharks are an important part of our oceans and play a key role in keeping our marine ecosystem balanced and healthy.

While sharks generally actively avoid areas of high human traffic, activities like fish and ray feeding can make them curious and more likely to investigate areas they would normally avoid, particularly given the lower than usual number of boats and visitors to the Sandbar at this time.

In order to reduce the likelihood of sharks learning to associate the presence of people with food and becoming regular visitors to the Sandbar, the Department of Environment advises the following:

1. Do not attempt to attract or feed sharks if they are present at the Sandbar. Under the National Conservation Law it is illegal to feed or attract sharks with bait anywhere in Cayman waters. The law also protects all sharks in Cayman waters at all times. Fishing and the take of any marine life at the Sandbar and Stingray City Wildlife Interaction Zones is strictly forbidden. Read the whole story here.

Blue Iguana Conservation programme celebrates arrival of twins

Loop Cayman
12 January 2021

The newest residents of the Blue Iguana Conservation (BIC) facility
are now 6-months old.

The arrival of twin blue iguanas was a special highlight of the recent breeding season at the BIC facility run by the National Trust for the Cayman Islands, with the support of the Cayman Islands Department of Environment and the Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park.

According to the National Trust, twin births are a rare occurrence in reptiles and, although not the first time for blue iguanas, it is still a special occasion.

As hatchlings, the twins were very vulnerable due to their small size, weighing less than 15 grams at the point of hatching-- the equivalent weight of one AAA battery. Now 6-months on, the twins have steadily grown and become stronger, surviving the heavy rains during hurricane season and now have their own personalities.

Iguana Warden, Peri Smalldon, expressed his excitement. "The twins were a real surprise for the team as you can never expect two hatchlings in the same egg. The survival of the twins, given their small size was against the odds, particularly during the 2020 hurricane season, however, we are very proud of this achievement by the BIC team and it is a positive news story to share during what has been a tough year for everyone."

The twins of Grand Cayman’s endemic blue iguanas can only be viewed during the guided tours at the Blue Iguana Conservation facility, which includes special access to the Blue Nursery. Read the whole story here.


Brac aviation firm fills disputed turtle kraal

Cayman Compass
12 January 2021

Heavy machinery moves in to fill in the kraal in a screen shot from a video taken by a Brac resident.

A stand-off between opponents and a new aviation firm on Cayman Brac escalated Tuesday after the company filled an old turtle kraal at the site where it plans to station an airfield and helicopter hangar.

The presence of the kraal, which objectors say is an important national heritage site, was cited as one of the key reasons for an appeal against the Development Control Board’s decision to grant planning permission for the project. The aviation firm says it was filled with the appropriate planning permission and in the presence of environmental officials in order to address safety issues due to trespassers.

Simone Scott, one of the members of a group opposing the airfield, said it appeared workers made a beeline for the kraal – an inland water hole used in previous generations to store turtles before they were needed for consumption. No other work was conducted at the site and the objectors believe the kraal was filled in prematurely to undercut their appeal.

“It is a beautiful site and it is important to us for our heritage. It was part of Cayman’s history,” said Scott.

Protesters say the turtle kraal was an important heritage site.

The firm, Dagarro Ltd, released a statement earlier in the day indicating it had filled in a “sink hole” on the site. Read the whole story here.

UN report: World could lose coral reefs by end of century

Cayman Compass
6 January 2021

Coral bleaching on Australia's Great Barrier Reef: after (left) and before (right). - Photo: The Ocean Agency/WL Catlin Seaview via UNEP

According to a recent United Nations Environmental Programme report, reefs worldwide are in danger of vanishing by the end of this century, under the pressures of ocean warming and coral bleaching.

“In the face of inaction, coral reefs will soon disappear,” Leticia Carvalho, head of the United Nations Environmental Programme’s Marine and Freshwater Branch, said following  the issuing of the report in late December.

“Humanity must act with evidence-based urgency, ambition and innovation to change the trajectory for this ecosystem, which is the canary in the coalmine for climate’s impact on oceans, before it’s too late,” she said in a press release accompanying the report...

...The latest report offers two possible scenarios of what happens next – a ‘worst-case’ one involving continued global use and dependence on fossil fuels, and a ‘middle-of-the-road’ one in which countries exceed their current pledges to cut back on fossil fuels and limit carbon emissions by 50%.

Under the ‘worst-case’ scenario, the report estimates that all of the world’s reefs will bleach by the end of the century, with annual severe bleaching occurring on average by 2034, nine years ahead of predictions published three years ago.

If jurisdictions do manage to achieve the ‘middle-of-the-road’ scenario, severe bleaching could be delayed by 11 years, to 2045, the UNEP report projected. Read the whole story here.

DoE: Leave the sharks alone

Cayman Compass
4 January 2021

This photo was shared in The Real Women of Cayman the Facebook group.

The Department of Environment has issued a reminder to the public not to harass or disturb marine wildlife after videos and photos of a shark spotted close to shore along Seven Mile Beach made the rounds over the weekend.

The DoE, responding to queries from the Cayman Compass, said it received about seven different reports from members of the public about seeing the shark.

“Sightings were reported along Seven Mile Beach in front of the Kimpton, Westin, and Ritz-Carlton hotels,” the DoE said.

In assessing a video that had been shared, the DoE said it was a reef shark...

...“The DoE advises that members of the public should avoid harassing, catching, touching, disturbing, injuring, or killing sharks as they are protected in the Cayman Islands given their essential role in maintaining the healthy balance of our marine ecosystem,” the DoE said.

While the department said it has received occasional reports of reef sharks in very shallow water along Seven Mile Beach in the past, it is not a common occurrence along that particular stretch of coastline near the hotels. Read the whole story here.


Environmentalists discourage use of Chinese lanterns

Cayman Compass
30 December 2020

Releasing Chinese or sky lanterns on the beach has become a tradition on New Year’s Eve in Cayman, but a local environmentalist is urging this practice to be discontinued.

Tammy Kelderman, environmental sociologist and founder of Cayman Eco, has said the lanterns are very bad for the environment.

“We would just like anyone who does one to understand the hazards to marine life. Even lanterns marketed as ‘biodegradable’ or ‘earth-friendly’, are not, really. They are still constructed with wires, treated paper, and/or a bamboo ring, and unfortunately can cause serious harm to marine life,” she said in a brief statement.

Kelderman said the Westin resort has cancelled this year’s lantern release based on critical feedback from customers.

The lanterns, she said, can glide in the sky for miles, “placing them in the pelagic feeding grounds of aquatic animals who can eat or become entangled in their remains”.

She added, “Many countries have actually banned their use. We do hope that the hotels will stop this ‘tradition’ and help preserve the beauty of our sea and ensure the safety of the creatures that make it home.”

DEH collecting Christmas trees for mulch

Loop Cayman
30 December 2020

The Department of Environmental Health (DEH) wishes to advise the public that bins have now been placed for the public to drop off Christmas trees.

Locations include:

Spotts Dock
The Cricket Grounds, George Town
The George Town Landfill 24 hour drop off-site

The trees will be collected and mulched in the landfill. The mulch will then be taken to the Cricket Grounds next to the Farmer’s Market in George Town for public collection on Saturday, January 23 2021 starting at 8am.

The Christmas season 2020, hazards to aviation

Caymanian Times
28 December 2020

As we enter the Christmas season the Civil Aviation Authority of the Cayman Islands (CAACI) would like to remind the public of the risks to aviation and public safety in general which come from the flying of small unmanned aircraft (also known as drones or unmanned aerial vehicles) kites, sky lanterns and firework displays which are received as presents or used as a part of the holiday festivities. Read the whole story here.

Local author donates $200K towards Little Cayman conservation

Loop Cayman
7 December 2020

L-R- Mrs Brigitte Kassa, Ms Betty Bua-Smith (Vice Chair, Little Cayman District Committee of the National Trust), Mr Gregory S. McTaggart (Chairman, Little Cayman District Committee of the National Trust)

The Little Cayman District Committee of the National Trust For The Cayman Islands has announced a donation of US $200,000 by Mrs Brigitte Kassa for the purchase of 17 acres of environmentally and ecologically important land in Little Cayman.

The parcel of land lies in prime Sister Islands Rock Iguana habitat and may contain historic artifacts from the phosphate mining industry that was on the island at the end of the 1800s.

The parcel adjoins another Trust held property on the Nature Trail at the west end of the island interior and nearly doubles the contiguous protected area at a time when pressures of speculative real estate development are increasing.

Mrs Kassa is a long time resident of Little Cayman, having settled on the island with her late husband Basil in 1973 when there were fewer than 20 inhabitants. She is a founding member of the Little Cayman District Committee and a Life member of the National Trust. She has always been an enthusiastic and extremely active member, from staffing the Trust House to setting up for the annual Easter Auction and Christmas Bazaar and attending regular Committee meetings. She even assisted with the construction of the Gladys Howard Visitors Center in the 1990s, doing everything including painting and operating heavy equipment, lifting the roof trusses in place with her backhoe. Read the whole story here.


21 people in 2021: James Whittaker

Cayman Compass
7 December 2020

James Whittaker (Photo credit: realife.ky)

It’s easy to see how GreenTech owner James Whittaker could help transform Cayman’s energy sector. He’s the man in charge of one of Cayman’s prominent solar-energy businesses and heads up the Cayman Renewable Energy Association, a group that lobbies on behalf of the industry.

“Our goal is really to help transform Cayman’s energy sector. We’d like to see this grow into another pillar of the economy,” he said.

There were more than 11 million renewable-energy-related jobs globally in 2019, according to the International Renewable Energy Agency’s annual review. Of those, 3.8 million were related specifically to solar power. Whittaker said Cayman can directly benefit from employment in this sector. 

“From an economic standpoint, this industry can create hundreds of jobs. It can support thousands of jobs indirectly,” he said. “Educating Caymanians to make sure that we take over in this industry and that we dominate this industry here locally, for me, is personally important.” 

Beyond dollars and cents, however, Whittaker points to the benefits of combating climate change. Cayman’s National Energy Policy calls for the country to use 70% renewable energy sources by 2037 and Whittaker says a planned update report in 2022 will show Cayman is behind schedule. Read the whole story here.

Lobby group launches ‘Rethink Cruise Tourism’ campaign

Cayman Compass
3 December 2020

Photo courtesty of cruiseportinsider.com

The recently formed Global Cruise Activist Network has launched a 'Rethink Cruise Tourism' campaign calling for a revamp of the cruise ship industry before sailings resume post-COVID.

In a virtual press conference on Wednesday, the group cited the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Travel Notice recommending people avoid travel on cruise ships because the risk of contracting COVID-19 is “very high”.

On 14 March, the CDC issued a 30-day ‘No Sail Order’ for cruise ships. This was repeatedly extended until 30 Oct., when it was replaced by a ‘Framework for Conditional Sailing Order‘, which allows for a phased resumption of cruise ship passenger operations based on strict new health and safety protocols.

However, the voyage did not go smoothly for the first cruise ship to operate a Caribbean route following the lifting of the No Sail Order. The SeaDream 1, owned by Norway’s Sea Dream Yacht Club, departed Barbados on 7 Nov. and reported a case of COVID-19 on board a few days later, forcing the ship to return to port. Several other passengers subsequently tested positive.

GCAN members said they agreed with the CDC’s contention that “cruising safely and responsibly during a global pandemic is very challenging”, and want this to act as a wake-up for the cruise industry to reform how it operates its business...

...The group is urging policymakers and cruise companies to create a “more responsible” cruise tourism industry, that takes social and environmental aspects into consideration. GCAN in September published its 'Principles for Responsible Tourism' to this effect.

The group is also calling on customers to make informed decisions about taking cruises. Linda Clark, of Cruise Port Referendum Cayman which opposed the creation of a cruise dock in George Town, said, “It’s time to rethink cruise tourism. Before rebooking a cruise, before investing money, before taking a cruise, before restarting cruise ships, please rethink your plan.” Read the whole story here.

DoE queries LNG as viable future option

Cayman News Service
1 December 2020

LNG storage tank (not in the Cayman Islands)

In its initial response to a proposal to build a liquid natural gas depot in Bodden Town, the Department of Environment not only raised concerns about the negative impact it would have on the immediate environment but also the wisdom of choosing LNG. The DoE said the proposal must be considered against the National Energy Policy target of generating 70% of local power from renewables by 2037.

Responding to Breakers LNG (Cayman) Ltd’s submission of a preliminary project concept, the DoE pointed out that while LNG is often referred to as a lower-emissions fuel facilitating a transition to renewables, it is in fact a hydrocarbon-based fuel that will still contribute to the overall carbon budget.

The DoE noted that the proposal would require a significant financial investment and time to realise the full scope of the works involved in the offshore facilities and the associated construction of roads and pipelines.

“The timeframe required for investors to realise a return on their investment may therefore not align with the timeframe required for the country to achieve decarbonisation of its power generation in order to do our part to keep global warming at or below 1.5⁰C,” the DoE said.

“The latest report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change clearly demonstrates that for low-lying, vulnerable islands like the Cayman Islands, limiting global warming to 1.5⁰C is a necessity as even an increase of 0.5⁰C above 1.5 ⁰C will result in unprecedented adverse impacts and a much harsher climate,” the DoE warned. Read the whole story here.


The bottlenecks to growing renewable energy in Cayman

Cayman Compass
1 December 2020

The goals to introduce renewables into Cayman’s energy mix are lofty but progress is slow.

In 2019, CUC generated just under 700 gigawatts of energy, but only about 2.6% of that came from renewable sources.

Because of the lower energy usage this year, due to the lockdown and the halt to tourism, the share of renewable energy has increased slightly to 3%.

This is still a far cry from the 240 megawatt capacity of renewable energy projected for the year 2037 by Cayman’s Integrated Resource Plan. This plan, drafted in 2017 by Caribbean Utilities Company and approved by the regulator OfReg, aims to meet both the islands’ energy needs and the climate goals of the National Energy Policy, which called for 70% of Cayman’s energy to come from renewables within 20 years.

The Carribbean Transitional Energy Conference, hosted virtually on 19 Nov. by the Cayman Renewable Energy Association, provided another reminder why growing the share of renewables is taking time.

The electricity provider CUC, regulator OfReg, the government and industry association CREA are locked into a circular argument of sometimes competing interests and objectives...

...The advancement of renewable energy, the cost of energy and ensuring competition are, to some extent, competing objectives. At a minimum, the lack of prioritising one over the other will lead to delays.

So far, renewable energy is evenly split between so-called distributed generation, mainly in the form of more than 500 rooftop solar panels, and a 5MW solar farm in Bodden Town. Read the whole story here.


Cayman commits to present climate change adaptation & mitigation plan

Loop News Cayman
1 December 2020

The Cayman Islands has committed to present a plan for climate change adaptation and mitigation which contributes towards global carbon emission reductions, in time for the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference, also known as COP26.

This commitment was made at The United Kingdom and British Overseas Territories’ Joint Ministerial Council (JMC) which was convened for the purpose of providing leadership and promoting cooperation in areas of mutual interest, and wrapped up Thursday, November 26, 2020.

At the JMC, the UK pledged to work together closely with the Overseas Territories in the lead up to COP26, to ensure that their interests are represented.

"As the host of COP26, the UK Government endeavours to offer the Overseas Territories opportunities to showcase their environmental initiatives at the summit, including in areas such as transitioning to renewable sources of energy and disposal of waste," the UK said in a communiqué. "For both biodiversity and climate change actions, the UK Government commits to provide the Overseas Territories with technical and financial assistance where this is required."

The UK Government also committed to "meaningfully engage with the Overseas Territories to achieve local objectives which contribute to global targets for the environment, consistent with Sustainable Development Goals. Commitments to environmental funding such as Darwin Plus will support joint objectives to preserve the wonderful array of biodiversity across the Territories for generations to come, and to be an example to other communities in responding to the global biodiversity emergency."

Darwin Plus (also known as The Overseas Territories Environment and Climate Fund) provides funding for environmental projects in UK Overseas Territories and fellowships for UK Overseas Territories (OT) Nationals to increase their knowledge and ability to meet long-term strategic outcomes for the natural environment in UK Overseas Territories.

The Cayman Islands has already made some headway in its fulfillment of these commitments. Cayman's National Energy Policy seeks to limit per capita carbon emissions to 2014 levels while achieving 70 per cent renewable energy by 2037. The Cayman Islands also produced a climate change policy in 2011, entitled "Achieving a Low Carbon Climate-Resilient Economy: Cayman Islands’ Climate Change Policy." Read the whole story here.

More renewables but energy efficiency is ‘the low-hanging fruit’

Cayman Compass
30 November 2020

CUC pays owners of solar or wind energy systems for their kilowatt hours, places the power on the national grid, and then bills them at a lower rate as they consume electricity for their own needs.

As part of an official push to reduce carbon emissions, the Ministry of Infrastructure announced it is compiling data on energy consumption and conducting energy audits to determine the cost of retrofitting many of the 160 government-owned buildings.

At last week’s virtual Caribbean Transitional Energy Conference, officials added that schools are one of the prime targets for energy-efficient insulation and air conditioning or rooftop solar panels. For the wider public, the ministry has launched an energy-efficiency campaign with a competition in which eight homeowners can win a free energy audit. The overall winner will receive an energy-efficient retrofit, from foam insulation to energy efficient air conditioning, based on the audit.

Kristen Augustine, energy policy coordinator in the ministry, said, “We want consumers to take control of their energy consumption to reduce their cost of living.

“The purpose of having another competition was that to show consumers how retrofits and behavioural changes can make a difference to help reduce your energy consumption.” Read the whole story here.

Partnership with UK on renewables, climate goals planned

Cayman Compass
30 November 2020

The Cayman Islands government is looking at a partnership agreement with the UK to support the introduction of renewable energy in the islands to meet the climate change goals set out in the National Energy Policy.

Cayman aims to generate 70% of its energy from renewable sources by 2037.

At a virtual renewable energy forum, organised last week by the Cayman Islands Renewable Energy Association, the minister responsible for infrastructure, Joey Hew, confirmed that his ministry is in the process of preparing a Cabinet paper, with the assistance of the Governor’s Office, to enter into a partnership with the UK government...

...Hew noted that the instability caused by global events over the past month demonstrated how vulnerable the Cayman Islands and other countries in the region are to market volatility and having their energy supplies disrupted.

“If anyone has any doubts about the realities of climate change, you need only look at the weather disasters that have occurred and continue to occur today and see the undeniable link between the two,” he said.

“While the Cayman Islands and other territories in the region are not major contributors to greenhouse gas emissions, we will all have to accelerate our climate action plan, as we will not escape the global climate challenges without transitioning to green energy.” Read the whole story here.

Free bus hits the road in George Town

Cayman News Service
26 November 2020

George Town Shuttle Logo

(CNS): Government is launching a free hop-on-hop-off shuttle bus service, which will hit the roads of George Town on Monday. The new service, described as an effort to reduce traffic in the capital and cut carbon emissions, will run daily on a continuous loop from Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm. The aim is to reduce cars making short trips and tackle parking issues in the town. Those targetted include individuals who work in or visit the central George Town area either for business or general errands. Minister of Commerce, Planning and Infrastructure, Joey Hew, said the shuttle service will have a number of short and long term benefits.

“It will assist many of our residents, particularly our older persons who often struggle to get around George Town,” he said. “In the longer term, we hope that the shuttle service will support Cayman’s energy efficiency goals through a reduction in emissions. If the shuttle service proves to be successful, we aim to expand the service and make it a permanent fixture for Grand Cayman.”

Energy Policy Coordinator Kristen Augustine said the service will make getting around central George Town much easier and economical for all.

“When devising the service, we wanted to ensure we that helped the tourism sector, which is still suffering as a result of the pandemic,” she said. “We have made use of existing tour buses to support those in the tourism industry who are unemployed. The spacious, air-conditioned buses will mean a comfortable and stress-free journey for passengers carrying out their daily errands.” Read the whole story here.

Gov’t funds water-sports operators to feed stingrays

Cayman Compass
24 November 2020

Stingrays at the Stingray City sandbar on Grand Cayman. - Photo: Serena Kelly

Government is paying water-sports operators $80,000 to feed stingrays at the Stingray City Sandbar for the next four months.

A number of Caymanian water-sports operators have launched the non-profit ‘Stingray Feeding and Interaction Program’, which is being funded by the Ministry of Tourism in a bid to bolster the population of the rays at the site, according to a press release from the operators.

The initiative will provide daily feeding and interaction for the stingrays at the sandbar by licensed Wildlife Interactive Zone operators for an initial period of four months. The government is providing $20,000 a month to the project, Troy Leacock, a member of the project’s steering committee, said.

A spokesperson for the group said in the release, “We could see that the numbers of stingrays at the Stingray City Sandbar were steadily declining since March but the recent Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation census confirmed our worst fears and we knew we had to move quickly to get a regular feeding program launched. But in addition to feeding, the stingrays need regular human interaction to maintain Cayman’s most popular experience.”

The three-day census in October showed that the number of stingrays at the sandbar had halved since the onset of the COVID-19 crisis. Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation researchers found 47 rays at the sandbar and only three at Stingray City. A census in July had found 60 rays at the sandbar, while pre-COVID counts showed an average population of more than 100 stingrays at the site. Read the whole story here.

DoE continues fight against coral-killing disease

Cayman Compass
24 November 2020

Dive sites from Bear's Paw off the coast of West Bay to Delia's Delight off North Side have been closed until mid-January in a bid to stop the spread of Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease. - Map: Department of Environment

Nearly two dozen volunteers have signed up to help with the Department of Environment’s efforts to contain the spread of Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease in Cayman’s reefs.

DoE sent out a call for volunteers, shortly after shutting down 43 dive sites along the North Wall in October due to the onset of the disease.

“The response from the public has been wonderful,” said a DoE spokesperson in an emailed response to queries from the Cayman Compass. “We currently have 20 experienced volunteer divers dedicated to helping us with our response to SCTLD and that number is growing every week.”

The coral disease, for which there is currently no cure, was first spotted at Penny’s Arch dive site in June, by a member of the public who reported it to the DoE. In an attempt to prevent its spread, in addition to closing the dive sites, the DoE removed boat moorings and established a ‘coral-firebreak’ in which highly susceptible stony corals were removed from nearby uninfected reefs.

This coral seen at Penny’s Arch in the Rum Point Channel
is infected with Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease. – Photo: DoE

Although Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease has been plaguing Caribbean reefs for nearly a decade, several crucial details about the affliction remain a mystery. Scientists still do not know how it is transferred from one reef to another, let alone from country to country. Read the whole story here.

Hew: No plan to ban petrol cars

Cayman Compass
24 November 2020

The minister responsible for energy and infrastructure has said the current administration has no plans or even a long-term target date for when Cayman might ban the importation of petrol powered vehicles. Joey Hew said it was “too early to go down that road”, depending instead on duty cuts to persuade people to switch, despite the ambitious National Energy Policy and the stated aims of his government to cut emissions.

At last week’s virtual Caribbean Transitional Energy Conference (CTEC), Hew was asked by organiser James Whittaker when Cayman would follow the UK’s ban on importing new petrol powered cars, but the minister gave no indication of when restrictions might be implemented, if ever.

He spoke instead about reducing the age of petrol cars that could be imported and using incentives to attract investment in the infrastructure needed for a move to electric vehicles. The minister said he hoped the duty cuts that government has implemented on electric cars and its plan to switch 10% of its fleet to electric vehicles over the next five years would act as that incentive.

But Hew admitted that at present the sector is not confident that government is serious about supporting a broader switch and remains reluctant to invest.

When Governor Martyn Roper delivered the introductory message for the conference, he said the world was at the climate change tipping point, putting island nations like Cayman at serious risk of sea level rise. But despite the sense of urgency conveyed by the governor, the minister said it was “too early” to set a date for a petrol vehicle ban, even though transportation has been identified as Cayman’s second biggest climate change problem.

Hew spoke broadly about government’s plans regarding a greener economy. He referred to the LED street light replacement project and a solar array at the government building that would supply around just 8% of the building’s energy needs. Hew said government was also about to undertake a tender process for a zero emissions shuttle bus service for George Town and had started a public campaign to cut home energy use. Read the whole story here.

Bulk Waste Campaign in Full Swing

Caymanian Times
23 November 2020

Christmas comes early every year at the Department of Environmental Health (DEH) as crews head out to tackle the hard, long days of cleaning-up the islands during their bulk waste campaign activities.
The campaign which commenced its annual bulk waste removal activity on Monday, 16 November has seen bulk waste collections and clean-ups in both East End and at the Bodden Town Civic Centre.

The campaign will continue in Bodden Town next week before moving into the other districts and onto Cayman Brac and Little Cayman. The campaign will continue until its conclusion on 19th December.

“This is a job well done by our team so far. This is not easy work and it is done with such dedication, integrity and care for the community. Residents should continue to follow the guidelines for bulk waste collections and be ready for their collection dates,” said Michael Haworth – Assistant Director, Solid Waste – DEH. Read the whole story here.

Beach disappears as storms steal shoreline

Cayman Compass
20 November 2020

Storm activity has stripped away sand at the northern end of the beach near the South Bay Beach Club. Photo: Taneos Ramsay

Parts of Seven Mile Beach have disappeared in the aftermath of a series of storms, sparking concern about the long-term future of Cayman’s greatest natural asset.

Property owners and environmental officials say the erosion at the northern end of the beach is some of the worst they have ever seen...

...Infrastructure Minister and George Town North MLA Joey Hew is leading the charge on government’s efforts to update Cayman’s development strategy, Plan Cayman, which will look at setbacks for properties building near the water.

Hew finds the beach loss worrying.

“Rising sea levels and the beach erosion have to be taken seriously and if we have to change the way we develop to achieve the setbacks and improved vegetation lines then we should do [it,]” he told the Cayman Compass Thursday.

Hew said any mitigation efforts would need to be approved, or even led, by the Department of Environment.

He said Plan Cayman is about to embark on a six-week consultation process about the future of the Seven Mile Beach area and he hopes to get wide input on the issue.

The minister said extended setbacks for new developments could be part of the solution.

“What is obvious is that the sea walls are a contributing factor [to the beach loss] and it is my hope that at the end of the Plan Cayman review of Seven Mile Beach that we return to setbacks being from the historical vegetation lines,” he said...

...In an earlier interview with the Compass, Wendy Johnston, of the DoE’s technical review committee, suggested slowly moving infrastructure off the beach over the coming years.“There is a process called managed retreat, which some [places], including Hawaii, have adopted to start removing and repositioning hard structures off the active beach,” she said. Read the whole story here.

Cayman's Pirates Week turtle release is today

Loop Cayman
20 November 2020

Cayman Turtle Conservation and Education Centre, in partnership with the Cayman Islands Pirates Week Festival, is pleased to announce their annual Pirates Week Turtle Release will take place today Friday, November 20 at 10am, as a virtual event.

Pirates Week turtle releases are part of a long-standing historical tradition, popular with residents and visitors alike.

“Due to COVID-19 restrictions on public gatherings, we decided to broadcast this year’s Pirates Week turtle release live on our Facebook page so audiences around the world, as well as locally, can share in this special occasion with us,” said Mrs Renee Howell, Chief Marketing and Merchandising Officer, Cayman Turtle Centre.

“It is such a long-running tradition that many parents, who enjoyed this event as children, will surely want to show their own kids what all the fun is about!” Read the whole story here.


Annual UKOT meeting goes online

Cayman News Service
20 November 2020

Premier Alden McLaughlin and Chief Officer Eric Bush in London

The annual meeting between the United Kingdom and its overseas territories will take place this year via video-conference starting on Monday. As with everything in 2020, the Joint Ministerial Council has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. While the virus and the arrival of various vaccines will top the agenda, the territories and the British government will also engage in a variety of discussions, from Brexit to climate change before wrapping up on Thursday.

According to a press release from his office, Premier Alden McLaughlin will be making a presentation about the recent amendments to the Cayman Islands Constitution, which were approved by the Privy Council last week.

The changes clarify the relationship between the governor and the UK. They specify the requirement for more consultation with local elected officials on various issues and revoke the British government’s ability to cancel or disallow legislation passed here. They also formalise the role of ministry councillors to parliamentary secretaries, provide for an additional Cabinet minister, outline the creation of a independent police commission, extend consultation on draft bills before they go to parliament by a week. Read the whole story here.

Conference to focus on Cayman’s clean energy future

Cayman Compass
17 November 2020

Photo credit: caymansolarenergy.ky

How Cayman can achieve its clean energy targets, boost the economy and create sustainability post-COVID will be some of the themes at the Caribbean Transitional Energy Conference (CTEC) on Thursday, 19 Nov.

The virtual event features 20 international speakers, including from the US, the UK, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica and Bermuda. From Cayman, Governor Martyn Roper and Joseph Hew, minister of commerce, planning and infrastructure, will be among those speaking...

...In the afternoon, guest speaker James Ellsmoor from UK-based Island Innovations will give a presentation on building a clean and sustainable Cayman in a post-COVID world, followed by a discussion moderated by senior environmental journalist Daphne Ewing-Chow.

The agenda for CTEC 2020 will also focus on the role of the regulator in promoting change in the energy sector. A regional showcase on driving clean energy growth will show policy success stories from the around the Caribbean. Read the whole story here.

CPA’s Balboa Beach decisions to be appealed

Cayman Compass
17 November 2020

The CPA is understood to have granted after-the-fact approval to a concrete slab that has been built at the Balboa Beach site. - Photo Taneos Ramsay

The controversy surrounding work at the Balboa Beach site along the George Town waterfront continues to escalate as two recent Central Planning Authority decisions on the development face appeals.

The appeals stem from mixed decisions that were handed down by the CPA in September on two after-the-fact applications concerning Balboa Beach.

Kel Thompson, the landowner, submitted the joint applications – for a concrete slab that was poured onto ironshore at the site and the partial filling-in of a portion of submerged ironshore.

The CPA refused the after-the-fact application for the filling-in of submerged coastal land, which Thompson is appealing; and allowed the concrete slab, a decision which neighbouring landowner Chris Johnson is appealing.

Thompson’s attorney Samuel Jackson said of the refusal, “We have expressed our interest to appeal the CPA’s decision on the grounds that it was irrational, and was unduly influenced by the National Conservation Council, which really had no real role in such a decision to begin with.” Read the whole story here.

Governor: World is at a ‘tipping point’ on climate change

Cayman Compass
8 November 2020

Massive storms like Hurricane Dorian which struck the Bahamas last year are expected to become more frequent as a result of climate change.

The UK hopes to play a bigger role in driving global action on climate change, Governor Martyn Roper has said.

The governor told the Cayman Compass that the world is at a ‘tipping point’, with potentially catastrophic implications for small islands.

The UK is hosting the United Nations Climate Change Conference COP 26 in Glasgow, Scotland, next year and Roper said the UK was hoping to galvanise the world to do a better job of limiting global warming. He said it was imperative for small islands like Cayman that the global community reduce green house gases.

Though Cayman is likely too small to make a significant impact on its own in that respect, he said there would be technical support from the UK as needed in areas like renewable energy.

He believes the islands and other overseas territories, which will discuss the issue at the next Joint Ministerial Council in November, can also play a role in spelling out the consequences of inaction on climate change.

Citing data that shows natural disasters cost Caribbean countries $52 billion between 1950 and 2014 and projections that the impact of such disasters would increase in the coming years, he said it was imperative that action was taken. Read the whole story here.

How accessible are beach accesses?

Cayman Compass
8 November 2020

A chainlink fence and thick shrubbery makes this clearly marked access point unpassable. - Photo: Taneos Ramsay

Though there are 279 public rights of way to beaches in Grand Cayman alone, keeping those paths properly mapped and maintained has proven a challenge for the Public Lands Commission, and quite a number remain inaccessible.

The commission has made some progress clearing 36 of the 91 blocked or partially blocked rights of way identified in a 2018 beach access report.

To get a clearer picture of public accessibility, the Compass set out to investigate beach rights of way along the main roads from East End to West Bay.

Out of the 64 accesses the Compass looked at, around 30 were either completely blocked, had obstacles in their path or were not properly marked. Read the whole story here.

Pressing issues to be addressed during Caribbean Environment Week

Loop Jamaica
6 November 2020

Many of the Caribbean’s most pressing issues related to sustainable economies and eco-friendly solutions will be addressed in a series of daily discussions from November 9 to 13, 2020, free and open to the public online.

The inaugural Caribbean Environment Week, under the theme “Bold Steps Towards a Sustainable Future,” will be presented by Live ECCO and Environmental Solutions Limited (ESL).

Caribbean Environment Week 2020 represents a concentrated effort to tackle a range of environmental challenges impacting the region, and to point to workable “green” solutions. Tight, focused but free-flowing discussions with guest speakers from Jamaica, Trinidad, UK, and the Cayman Islands will examine issues such as solid waste management, financing for sustainability, youth activism, and urban planning for resilience. The overarching, ever-present phenomenon of climate change, which is affecting every aspect of our economy and livelihoods, will be factored into the discussions.

The conversations will take place with a range of regional and international speakers and will be live streaming online on the Zoom platform and on YouTube at @LiveECCO  from the offices of the Branson Centre and from the Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC) in Kingston, Jamaica.

The full week’s agenda and registration details for the Zoom event are available at: www.LiveECCO.com/CEW20. For updates throughout the week, we invite you to check the Live ECCO and ESL social media channels. Read the whole story here.

Stingray sandbar population has halved amid COVID impact

Cayman Compass
4 November 2020

Guy Harvey and a team of volunteers during the recent census.

The number of stingrays at the North Sound sandbar has halved as a result of a decline in visitors since the onset of the COVID-19 crisis, according to the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation.

A three-day census last month found only 47 rays at the sandbar and only three at Stingray City. An earlier census in July found 60 rays at the sandbar.

Pre-COVID counts showed an average population of more than 100 stingrays at the popular tourist attraction.

Researchers attribute the drop in numbers to a reduction in “supplemental feeding” from the tour boats which would ordinarily visit the site.

Boats were banned from the sandbar for an extended period during lockdown. Even since the site was reopened, there has been limited boat traffic because of the absence of tourists on the island.

Though the foundation and the Department of Environment have been feeding the rays, the food they have provided is not enough to sustain such a large population.

The drop is not necessarily cause for concern, however. Stingrays forage for food naturally, supplementing their diet with easy meals from tour boats that frequent the sandbar.

“It is suspected that the individuals normally present at Stingray City Sandbar, but have not been seen during the recent surveys, are becoming less reliant on being fed by people and are foraging in the North Sound and surrounding areas for longer with occasional visits to the Sandbar,” the foundation said in a statement to the Compass. Read the whole story here.

Civil servants encouraged to get on a bike

Cayman News Service
4 November 2020

Minister Joey Hew with the bikes available with the BikeShare initiative

Public sector workers are being given the chance to use bicycles to get around with a three-month bike-share trial at the government HQ on Elgin Avenue. The Minister of Commerce, Planning and Infrastructure, in partnership with Cycle Cayman, is providing five bicycles on a dock by the staff entrance that can be released free of charge using an access app, giving workers a greener transport alternative.

Civil servants can sign up on the app using their government email address. This will allow them to unlock the bikes and use any of the bikes provided by Cycle Cayman around the island.

Planning Minister Joseph Hew said the three-month pilot was part of this year’s Energy Cayman campaign.

“Following the success of ‘Car Free Day’ in 2019, which included the use Cycle Cayman bicycles, we decided to make their bikes available for a longer period of time to encourage alternative transportation, particularly amongst civil servants,” he said. “The National Energy Policy (NEP) encourages the use of non-fossil burning vehicles as an alternative mode of transportation. One of the strategies of the NEP is to encourage cycling as an alternative mode of transportation.”

The pilot will also provide an opportunity to assess the inclination of people to use bikes to get around during the day.

Energy Policy Coordinator Kristen Augustine applauded Cycle Cayman for taking the innovative step of creating an automated BikeShare system here. Read the whole story here.


Reimagining Cayman: 7 ways the island could develop smarter in the future

Cayman Compass
27 October 2020

An aerial image of the Seven Mile Beach corridor from 1958 shows how the area looked pre-development. NB: Colour has been restored to this image from an original black and white shot.

When architect Mike Stroh looks at satellite imagery of Cayman, he gets an urge to move the pieces of the jigsaw around.

He sees buildings too close to the beach, large swathes of land wasted on concrete lots for car parking, and roads choked with traffic.

“If I had been here 50 years ago, I would have done things completely differently,” he says.

If Cayman’s growth had been masterplanned using modern principles from the beginning, it might look very different today.

While impossible to change the past, it can serve as a guide to the future. If Cayman, as seems apparent, is going to continue to grow, it should do so in a planned and strategic manner.

Stroh, of Trio Architecture, talked to the Cayman Compass about some of the methods he believes could allow the islands to continue to develop in a way that could even improve the quality of life. 

1. Deeper Setbacks
2. Redevelopment of older condominiums
3. Taller buildings
4. New Approach to car parking
5. Transforming public transport
6. Embrace complete streets
7. Proper beach access

Read the whole story here.

Putting a price on nature

Cayman Compass
27 October 2020

It is hard to put a dollar amount on the value of natural attractions like Booby Pond in Little Cayman, but natural capital accounting aims to approximate some of the 'services' provided to people by the environment. Photo: James Whittaker

Most people understand that natural attractions, like a beach, a coral reef or an area of mangrove wetlands, have value.

But what are they actually worth and how can that stack up against the promise of jobs and economic benefits that comes with every new development?

A new project seeks to quantify Cayman’s natural resources and put a dollar value on some of the ‘ecosystem services’ they provide, which range from supporting tourism to protecting the island from storms.

Environmental economics company Eftec has been retained through the UK’s Darwin Plus scheme to create a set of ‘natural capital accounts’ for Britain’s Overseas Territories, including Cayman.

Jake Kuyer, of Eftec, said the company would use cutting-edge statistical tools to create national accounts for the environment.

Once the project is complete, Cayman will know exactly how much coral reef, mangrove wetlands and dry forests remain across the three islands. It will also be able to put a price on some of the services they provide. Read the whole story here.

Fragments of endangered coral rescued

Cayman News Service
26 October 2020

Cayman Eco Divers and DoE researchers investigate Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease (Photo courtesy of the DoE)

Researchers at the Department of Environment are hopeful that pieces of endangered pillar coral rescued from areas of reef infected with Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease (SCTLD) in the North Sound can be saved. During the rescue mission last week in a heavily infected area by Rum Point, around ten pieces of this rare, threatened, and highly susceptible coral, which the DoE called “Fragments of Hope”, were removed in an effort to at least save some of the colony.

“Interestingly, the researchers were also able to see eggs inside the skeletal structure of several removed fragments,” the DoE posted on social media about the effort by their own researchers and Eco-Divers Reef Foundation to try to save at least some of the pillar coral (Dendrogyra cylindrus).

“This indicated that although the colonies were weak and dying from fighting against a virulent disease, they were still able to produce eggs and prepare for the upcoming spawning event later in the month,” the DoE said.

The department has closed off dozens of dive sites across the North Sound in an effort to curb the spread of SCTLD after this mysterious but lethal coral threat was discovered locally this summer. Read the whole story here.

Population growth has transformed Cayman’s economy and environment

Cayman Compass
25 October 2020

A bird’s eye view of Grand Cayman reveals the staggering impact of population growth on the island.

Two sets of aerial photographs, taken 60 years apart, starkly demonstrate the extent of the transformation that has taken place within a single generation.

Anyone with a passing familiarity with Cayman would already be aware of how rapidly the island has developed since the 1950s.

Yet the images, perhaps, communicate the scale of this change in a way that is less obvious at ground level.

There is little doubt that this development has been a huge part of Cayman’s metamorphosis from ‘the islands that time forgot’ to the powerhouse economy of the Caribbean that it is today.

Those same images, however, also illustrate the cost of that development and raise questions about if, how and from where Cayman’s future growth should come. Read the whole story here.

Editorial: Growth is good… but for how long?

Cayman Compass
16 October 2020

Population growth has fueled Cayman's economy but has also put pressure on public spaces. -Photo: Taneos Ramsay

“Greed is good.”

The oft-quoted maxim of Gordon Gekko, the anti-hero of the movie ‘Wall Street’, is perhaps the most recognisable slogan of the core assumptions of modern capitalism.

We need to alter that phrase, only slightly, to find the formula that has underpinned Cayman’s economic development over the past 60 years – “Growth is good.”

The population of these islands increased by about 10 times between 1950 and 2019, rocketing from little over 7,000 to almost 70,000 in the lifetime of many of our older citizens.

That growth has brought unprecedented wealth and a standard of living that previous generations could not have dreamed of.

In recent times, however, it has also created pressures on infrastructure, natural resources and social cohesion.

It is no exaggeration to say that population growth is linked to every single point of tension in the Cayman Islands. Read the whole story here.

43 North Wall dive sites to close as coral disease spreads

Cayman Compass
16 Octoer 2020

Dive sites from Bear's Paw off the coast of West Bay to Delia's Delight off North Side will be closed for three months in a bid to stop the spread of Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease. - Map: Department of Environment

The Department of Environment is shutting down 43 dive sites along Grand Cayman’s North Wall for the next three months as the island tries to combat the spread of the deadly Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease.

The affected dive sites are located between Bear’s Paw at the edge of West Bay and Delia’s Delight off North Side, and are predominantly along the entrance/exit of the North Sound – the only local area so far known to impacted by the disease.

The DoE said the closure of these sites comes at a time of year when they are usually inaccessible to divers due to adverse weather conditions.

“We are here to try and find a solution to stem the spread of this disease,” said Tammi Warrender, the DoE’s lead coordinator for its response to the disease, which has already decimated parts of Florida’s reefs. 

Warrender addressed about two dozen dive operators from various companies who attended a meeting about the DoE’s plans Friday morning at the Government Administration Building. Read the whole story here.


Litter Law charges considered in mangrove concrete dumping

Cayman Compass
16 October 2020

Workers returned to the Red Bay mangrove Tuesday morning to remove the dumped concrete. - Photo: Submitted

National Concrete has been warned by the Department of Environmental Health that it may face prosecution under the Litter Law, after a company truck was photographed Monday discharging excess concrete into a Red Bay mangrove.

DEH Director Richard Simms said his department submitted a file on the case to the Director of Public Prosecutions on Thursday.

Earlier this week, the Department of Environment decided not to recommend prosecution against National Concrete under the National Conservation Law’s mangrove plan, which prohibits damaging or destroying mangrove habitat without prior authorisation.

DoE Director Gina Ebanks-Petrie said it would not be fair at this time to recommend prosecution against the offending party because the mangrove conservation plan came into effect during COVID-19 lockdown.

“We intend to reach out to the cement company and alert them to the fact that this practice, which has unfortunately become commonplace now, is illegal,” Ebanks-Petrie said Monday. Read the whole story here.

Cayman: Solid Waste Management early works announced

Loop Cayman
15 October 2020Government and the Dart-led Consortium have signed a number of agreements for pre-construction works to advance strategic elements of the Integrated Solid Waste Management System (ISWMS) project, which is to be operated as a public-private partnership.

The Consortium, led by Dart, was identified after careful consideration by the ISWMS project team as the preferred bidder because its proposal best follows the recommendations in the outline business case and offers the greatest value for money.*

The agreements, signed today (Tuesday, 13 October 2020) will allow the Consortium to continue the remediation and capping of the existing George Town Landfill (GTLF) at an estimated cost of KYD20 million.

The agreements will also allow the Consortium to finalise design details for the project, including the energy recovery facility, otherwise known as waste-to-energy, in preparation for an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and submissions to the Planning Department.

The closure, capping and remediation of the GTLF will be undertaken in phases, with the entire mound covered with an initial regulating layer by the end of this year and the entire remediation completed by mid-2022.

Premier Hon. Alden McLaughlin, who served as Minister for Health when the ISWMS project was first announced, said he was pleased the project had reached a point where the people of the Cayman Islands could begin to see the realisation of Government’s vision for waste management in the country.

Thanking the members of the project team for their perseverance, current Health and Environment Minister Hon. Dwayne Seymour added that he understands public frustrations with the length of time taken over negotiations, but notes that this will be the country’s first public-private partnership and that the timeframe is not uncommon for infrastructure projects of this size and complexity. Read the whole story here.


Earth breaks September heat record, may reach warmest year

Loop Cayman
14 October 2020

FILE - In this Saturday, September 5, 2020 file photo, people crowd the beach in Huntington Beach, California, as the state swelters under a heat wave. On Wednesday, October 14, 2020, the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said the Earth reached a record hot September, saying that there’s nearly a two-to-one chance that 2020 will end up as the globe’s hottest year on record. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Earth sweltered to a record hot September last month, with US climate officials saying there's nearly a two-to-one chance that 2020 will end up as the globe's hottest year on record. 

Boosted by human-caused climate change, global temperatures averaged 60.75 degrees (15.97 Celsius) last month, edging out 2015 and 2016 for the hottest September in 141 years of recordkeeping, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said Wednesday.
That's 1.75 degrees (0.97 degrees Celsius) above the 20th century average. 

This record was driven by high heat in Europe, Northern Asia, Russia and much of the Southern Hemisphere, said NOAA climatologist Ahira Sanchez-Lugo. California and Oregon had their hottest Septembers on record. 

Earth has had 44 straight Septembers where it has been warmer than the 20th century average and 429 straight months without a cooler than normal month, according to NOAA. Read the whole story here.

Landfill pre-construction work set, but negotiations continue

Cayman Compass
14 October 2020

Pre-construction work is set to begin on government’s long-awaited waste management plan, but a final agreement with the selected project bidder, Dart-led consortium DECCO, is still in progress, government announced Tuesday. 

Three years after DECCO was selected to tackle government’s waste management problem, negotiations on the design, operation and financing aspects of the project are ongoing.

Officials indicated Tuesday, however, that they are ready to move forward and begin the early phases of the project. A final agreement with DECCO on operational details could be signed by the end of the year, said Premier Alden McLaughlin.

By 2024, when the George Town landfill is expected to reach full capacity, government hopes to complete the final phase of its integrated waste management plan – a waste-to energy facility that would turn rubbish into ash. Government estimates the project could divert up to 90% of waste from being landfilled in the future. Read the whole story here.


$20,000 green home makeover offered in competition

Cayman Compass
7 October 2020

Government and the Caribbean Utilities Company today launched a competition in which  one household will win a $20,000 energy-efficient makeover of their home.

All homeowners who live within their properties can apply to take part in the contest, and eight homes will be chosen for home energy audits, worth $1,900 each, according to an announcement by the Ministry of Commerce, Planning and Infrastructure.

The ministry, in partnership with CUC, launched the Home Energy Efficiency Competition, with the aim to help show residents how to reduce their energy use, lower the cost of living and lower CO2 emissions, the statement said.

The energy audits will analyse the homes and determine where and how energy is being lost and what systems are operating inefficiently, and recommend improvements that can be made to substantially lower utility bills.

One of the eight homes will be chosen to receive a full home ‘energy makeover’, worth up to $20,000. Read the whole story here.

Rare and elusive killer whales a mysterious presence in Cayman

Cayman Compass
4 October 2020

Recent sightings of a pod of killer whales off the coast of the Cayman Islands mark only the eighth occasion the elusive mammals have been officially recorded in these waters.

Anecdotally, there are suggestions of more frequent sightings, but the range and habits of orcas, both around Cayman and in the Caribbean at large, is a mystery that researchers are only just beginning to unlock.

Fishermen [sic] Chris Briggs recorded stunning drone footage after sighting the pod off East End last week.

And a group of scuba divers from Ocean Frontiers, en route to Little Cayman, spotted them again last Sunday, around five miles off Grand Cayman.

Jaime Bolaños-Jiménez, one of the leading researchers on orcas in Caribbean waters, told the Cayman Compass there was very little known about the presence, range and family associations of the creatures in the region. Read the whole story here.

Demand for nature tourism expected to increase after COVID

Cayman Compass
2 October 2020

Image courtesy of US News

With nature based attractions expected to be in demand post COVID, the future for Cayman tourism could be as much about protecting its natural assets as attempting to create new attractions. Read the whole story here.

DoE marks 500th wild turtle nest

Cayman News Service
29 September 2020

DoE Director Gina Ebanks-Petrie finds 500th turtle nest (Photo courtesy of the DoE)

2020 is a year none of us are likely to forget, and while COVID-19 is indelibly stamped on it, there are some good things to remember too. The Department of Environment’s Turtle Conservation Programme officially recorded the 500th wild sea turtle nest of the season on Tuesday morning, reflecting the efforts of volunteers and organisations committed to helping these endangered species survive and thrive.

In the 1999 season only 23 nests were found on Grand Cayman, but over the next twenty years there was a phenomenal increase in nests numbers. Last year, which is the longest nesting season to date, a total of 675 nests were found across all three islands. Since monitoring began the highest number of nests in any one season was in 2017, when 679 nests were recorded.

In a happy coincidence, the 500th nest for 2020 was found on the stretch of beach that is monitored by DoE Director Gina Ebanks-Petrie. The team celebrated this special event with her and DoE staff member Paul Chin, known as the ‘Turtle Whisperer’.

Ebanks-Petrie, who has stewarded the programme’s development since 1999, spoke about the work over the last two decades that has led to the increase in nests, which is slowly helping to increases the number of these endangered species in the wild. Read the whole story here.

DoE: Dive volunteers helped save coral

Cayman Compass
28 September 2020

Over three days last week, hundreds of volunteer divers worked to clear sand that was smothering coral at Eden Rock. Those efforts may have paid off, according to Department of Environment Deputy Director Tim Austin. Read the whole story here.

Dump deal ‘soon come’, claims minister

Cayman News Service
23 September 2020

Protect Our Future protests the dump (Photo by POF member Isabela Watler)

Government is said to be close to signing a deal with the preferred bidder on the long-awaited waste-management project. It has been almost three years since the Ministry of Health selected DECCO and a consortium of waste experts to take on the project, but to date almost nothing has happened on the tender remit and the George Town dump continues to grow, with reuse and recycling accounting for only a fraction of rubbish management.

On Friday, Health Minister Dwayne Seymour, who is responsible for the Department of Environmental Health, which operates the landfills on all three islands as well as garbage collection, claimed that a deal was going to be signed soon. He said that talks with the Dart-led consortium regarding the project had made real progress.

“From the progress that I have seen… next month we hope to sign the total agreement. So we are very close in our negotiations, so I must say there is a lot of progress being made,” he said in response to questions from CNS about the possibility of taking the project into public hands in order to move it along.

Seymour said that work on remediating the dump was underway but it would be next year before any work would begin on the waste-to-energy component of the project, which the government is relying on to all but eliminate the need for a landfill.

However, government has been describing the project as ‘soon come’ for more than a decade. A combination of factors, from backroom dealing to a lack of profitability in waste-management, has thwarted efforts to address what many see as Cayman’s most fundamental environmental and public health problem, even in the face of the current COVID-19 pandemic. Read the whole story here.

Cayman Eco is a non-profit group based in the Cayman Islands whose mission is to educate & motivate people of all ages to become more environmentally conscious.

Thanks to theNational Trust for the Cayman Islands for their continued support!

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