Joseph Imparato, the developer of
the proposed multi-use port project in the High Rock area of East End, wants
the Cayman public to take a closer look at the plan before making up their
minds about its merits.
The 1,500-acre port site would
incorporate five elements: a cruise ship home port, including a hotel and
shopping area; a cargo port; a container storage facility that would be used
for transhipment; a storage facility for fuels; and a mega yacht facility.
“This is about creating jobs and
opportunities,” he said at a small briefing on Wednesday, adding that the
project could facilitate growth in Grand Cayman’s Eastern districts in much the
same way the government’s Go East initiative of 2005 envisioned.
Mr. Imparato acknowledged that
there are already a lot of vocal detractors of the project, but he said their
objections are often based on misinformation. Some of that misinformation
includes claims that the there will be an oil refinery at the site; that the
port basin would cut Grand Cayman in half; and that the basin could lead to
salt spray reaching the Botanic Park on Frank Sound Road, which is more than
six miles away.
To ensure the public has the
correct facts about the project, Mr. Imparato has engaged Atwater Ltd to
conduct a public relations campaign that will include a website, advertising
and a series of public meetings.
Mr. Imparato said he has had the
vision to develop the port for almost eight years, when he first began to
acquire the land. Hurricane Ivan in 2004 put the plans on hold, and the
People’s Progressive Movement government had no interest in pursuing the
project, he said. However, the current government has indicated it has an interest
in the development.
“They have given the green light to
discuss the project with the public,” he said.
The development would be fully
funded by the developer, at least until the Port Authority moved to improve the
cargo port portion, which Mr. Imparato said wouldn’t have to happen
immediately. The land has already been
purchased and is unencumbered. Funding for development would be generated
through the sale of earth materials excavated in the digging of the port basin
to a depth of 55 feet, Mr. Imparato said, adding that it is estimated that 14
million cubic yards of earth would come out of the basin.
“It would mainly have to be
exported,” he said. “It’s too much to sell here.”
One of the prerequisites for the
project would be the extension of the East-West Arterial Highway from its
current terminus at Hirst Road. Although it is not part of the current port
proposal, Mr. Imparato said he anticipates making another proposal to government
to use the excavated earth materials to lay down the base of the road
extension.
“What better place to use that
material than on the road base?” he asked.
The project would take about seven
years to complete. Mr. Imparato said it would create some jobs from the very
beginning because he would need to engage heavy equipment operators to help with
the excavation. However, the real opportunities for employment and commerce
would come when the port becomes functional, he said, noting that if a duty
free port development zone was created on the container storage facility, it
could promote new industry on Grand Cayman, including manufacturing/assembly,
processing and international sales of goods.
Mr. Imparato said the High Rock
location was selected specifically because there is little other development in
the area and there is no reef that would have to be dredged to facilitate the
development. A breakwater would be created to help protect the basin from the
sea. As part of the development process, an environmental impact study will be
conducted to determine the possible impact of digging a channel along the south
shore of Grand Cayman into the interior of the island.
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I agree that all the information regarding this project should be available to the public for comments. I think it is quite interesting. A few notes:
1. Has an Environmental Impact Assessment been done? This will go a long way in showing that the environment will not be damaged.
2. what are the advantages and disadvantages of a Port of this size being constructed?
3. The capital generated from the Earth represents approx. 25% of the capital needed to complete this facility; where is teh remaining capital coming from?
well. Why do you need these answered? They are quite easily answered with common sense
1. The impact isn’t going to be that great. We have 24 x 10 miles of coast line. Lets be serious here.
2. Do you really need to ask that question? It creates jobs. And after the port is built it will help create business’s which create more jobs. Enough said.
3. why is where they are getting capitol/money relevant to anyone? If they said santa claus. Would that make it any better or worse?
Good News
To have this port is the best idea in a long time.
It will not ruin Cayman or disturb the way of life in east end But what it will do is enable the island to survive.
A cargo facility and ship traffic will pump lots of money into economy.
I was in freeport bahamas the other day looking over the port operations saw crane operators, dock workers, ship repair, pilot boats, tugs lots of office workers and many other jobs with happy workers & new cars in the parking lots.
Since we lost banking perhaps some people would choose to store items in secure facilities at the new port(kind of safety deposit boxes.
Imagine new hotels, restaurants and the businesses that will set up around the port the list is endless …
The Eastern Districts as a collective is the saving grace of Cayman today.
This proposal is nothing but the beginning of the end said saving grace.
As soon as this port is erected the domino fall will commence and development will run rampant as it has in SMB – then in another 30 years we will be crying the same old song in regards to the Eastern districts as we are now for SMB!
If we need to extend our cargo and cruise berthing facilities (doubtful as industry related reports are predicting a forthcoming avoidance of the Caribbean ports) then let us do so on the previously developed areas of the island!
For goodness sake – the UK and other European countries have HUNDREDS OF MILES OF PROTECTED COASTLINE!! Extending up to 10 miles inland at some points!! Those countries are in now way as dependent on their coastline as is the Cayman Islands!
Why is this so difficult for people to understand?!
Our TOURISTS LOVE the calm and tranquil qualities of our Eastern districts – most are FED UP with the over-development and congestion of SMB and GT – but still we are adamant on destroying their (and our) last bit of solace?!
Absolutely amazing.
*As for the jobs argument – give me a break! All over this world people commute daily to get to work – in the UK alone the average commute is something like 1.5 hours! If our EE and NS residents need a job – then for the better good of everyone else – let them make their way to work! (Btw, I too will eventually be falling into the category of a resident of the Eastern districts.)*
Furthermore – we ALL KNOW that there will be another tsunami or work permit workers to complete this project.
Come on Cayman … let us take our heads out of our behinds for once! See the true picture for what it is. No true, justified or valuable long term benefit will come from this project to the people of this country. Instead, it will only fatten the pockets of a select few – mostly non-Caymanians … as is always the case!
Sincerely,
whodatis
I hope they get started on it right away. The cargo facility should have been relocated from downtown YEARS ago — it’s an eyesore right smack in the middle of Georgetown. So, finally something positive is going to happen. East End desperately needs SOMETHING going on, it’s just withering out and dying. Many East Enders would end up getting jobs there — instead of having to make the 1 hr drive to Georgetown and back every day. And it’s an isolated area, so there is no impact to other businesses or homes or to the quaint EE community. I just hope the government doesn’t throw all sorts of red tape in, and stall things like they are notorious for doing — to the point where people lose interest and give up ( i.e. Mandarin hotel, EE Cardiac Hospital, The Islands resort, etc etc.) You can’t stop development — we need this facility and it sounds like a lot of care and planning have gone into making it something that we can be proud of.
Keeping an open mind, okay.
This project certainly sounds wonderful in terms of job creation and economic stability, just a few items that you may want to consider:
1. 14 million cubic yards, isn’t that like 1/4 the size of the North Sound, what a HOLE! We must have not been here during Ivan, I am sure that we need another huge hole on this tiny island to ensure that it will never recover from harsh natural disasters ever again.
2. What developed country would pay top dollar during these difficult economic times to IMPORT limestone, nonetheless, from the Cayman Islands, very interested in seeing the proposed business plans here.
3. What you’re saying is you’re going into the Quarry business and hopefully the funding from that will allow future funding for 8 more years.*Place job creation plug HERE*
4. Won’t even going into the environmental impact of this, your small summary of how it will not affect us that much does not suffice, ridiculous.
5. I can also go on about how Cayman will NEVER become an initial point of embarkation for cruise ships with our MANY flight connections, our HUGE population base and our CHEAP and cost effective operational costs, but I will leave that to you the pros.
Have a good time in dreamland. Hope that our Gov’t won’t join you there.
As an Eastern District Property Owner, I think this is great news. I do agree that there is an air of tranquility in the Eastern Districts and I am sure that some of this will change. But change is what’s needed in a constantly changing world. Every cause has an effect, Tourists and other folks that seek out the calm and tranquil life that exists in the east end will still be able to find it there. This Port will not encompass that whole side of the island, there will still be beautiful and quite places to find. And this may also encourage folks who are looking for total peace and quiet to consider vacationing on the sister islands whom could really use economy boost this could bring.
I also don’t see how bringing some of the Seven Mile Beach action to the east end would hurt, The seven mile beach area generates the biggest profits on the island, The East End could surely use a piece of that pie. The result would be a less crowded Seven Mile Beach as well as the creation of new jobs, opportunities for small businesses and increased property values on the East and North side of the island. This would all breathe new life in the Islands as a whole, which is something that is really needed at this point and this will benefit both Caymanians and Non Caymanians residents as well.
The true cayman spirit will allways be in the brac, the bush and northside and it will be strong for at least 3 generations in east end.If the port comes in. Think about it. Those kids now in EE now are full blooded East Enders and so will there kids be.
Hear What I Tell YA
On the other side there is plenty of slum in george town and that airport is not very good …imagine a shopping centre next to a runway .(LOL)…in just a few years downtown will be older than it is now and so will seven mile beach …with minimal new building space avaiable.(more slum). the airport when added behind boddentown will allow a new town centre to be built on the airport property ..and with the new highway ….hospital etc ….Boy will it be nice
The port at High-rock is exactly what is needed for the eastern districts, and the removal of the cargo facilities and bulk-fuel-storage is what is needed for George Town and South Sound. As the developer go through the environmental impact study, government should take up an economic impact study.
The developers business case should have done most of the research for this. Failing the two reports one can only comment on the possibilities. A major concern would be the East End water lens. As far as exporting Cayman (limestone) No!. As we allow the sea to claim part of the land, we should claim back part of the land from the sea. If any roadway link is required it should be elevated as suggested some years ago by a lady with vision.. What a view, I am sure she must be an environmentalist tree huger like me. As a land owner at High Rock I welcome the port and the possibilities.
Wow! And this comin from the owner of CUC who has sky-rocketed costs on my utility bill! Joe better go back to his home in the United States. As far as I am concern, he so distant, he doesn’t feel what we Caymanians are feeling! UDP, what happened with the idea of finding a competitor to compete against CUC? Joe perfectly knew that High Rock was the ideal place to set up a windmill company against his. People, wake up!
Actually Bodden. CUC is a Canadian owned company.
But agree we need alternate energy. But def not wind farms. Eye sore, loud, and take up too much land.
big berd, something has to be done! We are over-developing too fast! There are other ways the Premier and UDP can boost the economy. He can start with reducing fees and helping locals with their businesses. Then you will see jobs created in the economy. Not these huge developments and cutting down of our trees, shipping our lands away to fill the pockets of wealthy individuals who may even encourage cheap labor. I understand Joe wants to bring in a CORPORATION (exempted from Work Permits) in order to launch this massive project. I notice CayCompass has not mentioned anything about this CORPORATION coming here.
CayCompass: There is no way that the ratings below in favor for this Port are accurate. The amount of objections island wide against this project of OVERDEVELOPMENT is tremendous. Cayman News Service has completely different ratings – most if not 90% of them are negative, coming from folk who dissagree with the project.