Once again Government is going to have to step up to the plate to legislate action that is already the responsibility of residents.
Bodden Town MLA Osbourne Bodden is asking his fellow lawmakers to consider enacting legislation that would require home and land owners to keep their property clean.
Pride in one’s own property shouldn’t have to be legislated.
People who refuse to clean up their own property are a disgrace to the entire country of the Cayman Islands.
There are homes and buildings in bad states of disrepair from Hurricane Ivan in 2004 in just about every district.
Trees, grass and vines are now growing through many of those structures.
It’s just plain ugly.
We’ve got laws on the books that deal with derelict property, but they don’t have enough teeth in the penalty phase to give anyone reason to give a whit about obeying the laws.
The laws were last looked at in 1971.
The 1970 Census shows there were a total of 10,249 residents and 403 visitors in the Cayman Islands. Of that there were only 8,932 people on Grand Cayman.
We’re sure the figures didn’t change much for 1971.
Back then most people kept their property clean out of pride.
Today’s estimation is that there are more than 52,000 people in the country and it’s apparent some of those don’t have that same pride that existed in the 1970s.
For starters, the law needs to be upgraded to make penalties a bit stiffer.
Our neighbour to the north, Florida, charges a $500 fine for derelict property and an additional $500 a day fine.
We don’t have to do exactly what Florida does, but we do need to follow its lead.
There’s really no excuse for nasty property.
If you have an elderly neighbour who needs some help tidying up his place, do the right Caymanian thing and lend a hand.
If you are one of the culprits, quit using Hurricane Ivan as an excuse.
There were many of us – homeowners and businesses – faced with the daunting task of cleaning up and rebuilding. We all pitched in and got it done.
You have no excuse.
Too, we’re fast approaching another hurricane season and the prediction is that it’s going to be bad. Junk laying around in your yard or on your property could become a projectile in the next storm and maim or kill someone.
We don’t think you really want that on your conscience.
The weekend is upon us and is a perfect time to get your property in shape.
Do it before Government truly has to step in.
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