The following is an Earth Day message from Minister for Tourism, Environment, Development & Commerce McKeeva Bush.
Earth Day was first observed on April 22nd 1970 in the United States and has since spread around the world.
In the Cayman Islands we have been using the idea of Earth Day for many years now to highlight environmental challenges and successes in our country.
This year’s theme ‘Protect Our Children & Our Future’ invites us to continue this forward looking environmental planning.
On September 26th, 2001, I signed the Environmental Charter between the United Kingdom and the Cayman Islands. This Charter represents undertakings by both the Cayman Islands and the United Kingdom governments to implement best practices in environmental management.
While we have made much progress, many challenges remain.
In June of last year the Legislative Assembly passed The Endangered Species (Trade and Transport) Law to bring our local CITES enabling legislation in line with accepted best practices internationally.
The Marine Conservation Law itself has recently been revised to expand the protection of many of our important marine species such as our Nassau Grouper for the benefit of future generations of Caymanian fishermen.
Our juvenile and other ornamental reef fish, as well as the sea eggs and other echinoderms so valuable to the health of our reefs, have also been protected.
These were not traditionally fished by Caymanians and we do not want to lose them from our waters as has happened in other countries without such forward-looking legislation.
Because of public concern over the lack of conch, lobster and whelks, reduced bag limits and closed seasons were introduced for these species, which was necessary to ensure the continuation of our way of life.
New National Conservation Legislation which will bring our Marine Conservation and other Laws up to date with modern Cayman has also been drafted.
A white paper outlining the main structures and provisions of this legislation was tabled in the Legislative Assembly in 2002. This legislation is now in its final drafting stages and, when passed, will help us to sustainably manage development to achieve that delicate but necessary balance between growth and conservation.
Responding to public planning exercises, such as Vision 2008, Government has taken steps toward the creation of the Barkers National Park.
Most recently, Government has entered into an agreement to purchase a significant portion of the land needed for the creation of the Park. We have also been successful in negotiating 210 acres of land in the Barkers National Park and other mangrove wetland areas in mitigation for development activities in other parts of Grand Cayman.
The Barkers Park proposal enjoys widespread public support and once the necessary legislation is in place, it will become the first National Park in the Cayman Islands.
This is the kind of beneficial environmental project that will take several years from inception to completion but that will reap benefits for the country as a whole. By acting now, we make a better future for ourselves.
As the Minister for Tourism, Environment, Development & Commerce I encourage everyone in the Cayman Islands to use Earth Day to consider what they can do today to make all aspects of life in Cayman environmentally and economically better for our children and our future.
Mr. Bush
Related Videos
