Consistent with my long-standing modus operandi and desire to positively contribute to objective thought leadership in this country, I have read with interest a letter in the Caymanian Compass on Thursday, 12 May, from Mr. N.K. Thompson and now wish to again comment on a matter of importance to our economic well-being and overall destiny.
Over the past few years there have been questions and discussion in our Islands about a topic, which I have chosen to style ‘Sustainable Growth Management…who are we developing for’.
Accepted definition
The definition of sustainable development in the UN’s Brundtland Report is the most widely accepted standard, and reads: ‘The guiding principle of sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Sustainable development recognizes the interdependence of environmental, social and economic systems, and promotes equality and justice through people empowerment and a sense of global citizenship. Whilst we cannot be sure what the future may bring, a preferable future is a more sustainable one’
Over the past 10 to 15 years, there has been much in these Islands on the important topic of growth management. Various topics have emerged including: franchise architecture and aesthetics; Caymanization of the workplace, including in the hospitality sector; revenue sources; carrying capacity of our infrastructure and eco-systems; limitation to cruise ships to a manageable level; impact assessments, and compensatory fees; land reclamation and dredging; water management and drainage; solid and liquid waste disposal and management; land ownership, affordable housing; sustainable population growth and mix; beach access and beach erosion etc.
Long-term pain
Over the past four years we have seen a brand of economics and development strategies being advocated that will amount to no less than short-term gain for long-term pain. For example, to stimulate the Real Estate and Construction sector we have seen a reduction in Stamp Duty and related development fees; one initiative to compensate for this loss revenue was for Government to increase the number of cruise ships calling at our port.
There is less revenue for government to meet important recurrent and capital expenditure requirements, including on crime prevention.
Indeed, we ought to pay close attention and be mindful of what the World Trade Organization calls the carrying capacity threshold.
Although a vague enough definition it speaks to the point ‘when negative factors start to operate’ and is the point that tourists vote with their feet and go elsewhere. One has to wonder if the new cruise terminal arrangement with the FCCA loan agreement, which makes it a condition precedent that some 2.1 million minimum cruise tourist disembark from various cruise ships onto our Islands is in itself sustainable.
It is unfortunate that for small island communities like ours, the greater the numbers of tourists the greater the pressure on the physical environment and the greater the demands on limited resources.
The 2003 Grant of 3000 Caymanian Status by the UDP Cabinet is another example of unsustainable development.
On the one hand, the swift and decisive leadership seems to have attempted to expand the economy by a rapid increase in population, while at the same time increasing the demand on the economy to continue overheating by opening the floodgates to business licenses, including Liquor Licenses.
Plan crucial
The articulation of a long-term economic vision and plan is crucial – and it must be done by organizations and individuals who have a credible track record in that discipline.
To fully assess how the sustainable growth issue relates to you, if you have a child or children just ask them ‘what kind of Cayman Islands do you want when you grow up? Are you better off today, than say five years ago? Another question for all business owners, employers, and employees to ask is: why do visitors come to Cayman, and how can we preserve the charm, which has successfully attracted them to us thus far?
Throughout my public life myself, with many other sustainable development advocates, have shown keen interest in facilitating discussion on how these Islands can stimulate progress without destroying the core of our success, which includes our: environment, human capital, heritage, social fabric, culture, attitudes and ethics etc. I commend the topic of ‘Sustainable Growth Management…who are we developing for’, as a topic which deserves prominence on all thought and change leadership discussions in these Islands. We look forward in working with the new PPM administration, who also appear to be strong advocates of sustainable development, to engage all stakeholders in reviewing Vision 2008 (National Strategic Plan) and developing a revised long-term and comprehensive development plan for these Islands.
In closing, may I reassure Mr. Thompson, and others, that as a senior member of the Executive of the PPM, which was previously publicly declared and deliberately not hidden during the recent campaign, that it is my opinion that with a PPM government, when we talk about long-term planning, investment promotion, and sustainable development, that Sir Winston Churchill’s words come to mind, and I too say: ‘this is not the end, or the beginning of the end….but the end of the beginning’.
May God continue to bless, prosper, and protect these Cayman Islands.
Mario E. Ebanks
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