Premier McKeeva Bush said he was hopeful that a “ground breaking” on the much-debated Dart group project would start construction works “in the coming week”.
During a meeting held Tuesday night at George Town’s Mary Miller Hall, Mr. Bush did not state what particular facet of the massive land-swap, construction deal he hoped to commence. However, he broached the issue in the context of providing local jobs in the construction and road building sector.
“[Government’s agreement with the Dart group] will create an immediate economic stimulus for the local economy led by the creation of jobs for Caymanians in a number of sectors, starting with the road works and construction industries,” Premier Bush said. “I’m hoping that we will soon be able to break ground and I’m hoping that we will have a ground breaking so that this work can start in … the coming week.”
The Premier stressed the final agreement between government and the Dart group had not been approved by the Cayman Islands Cabinet. However, he vowed to push one aspect of the deal, the relocation of a section of West Bay road through the upper end of Grand Cayman’s Seven Mile Beach, through at all costs.
“It’s going to happen,” Mr. Bush said. “So understand that you’re not going to stop it, because it is the right thing for these Islands and a better thing for West Bay.”
The irony of the two statements was not lost on West Bay resident Alice Mae Coe, who attended the George Town meeting Tuesday night.
“[Moving the road] sounds like a foregone conclusion,” Ms Coe said. “I’m not sure how we can get into all of these discussions … if the final agreement has not been affected.”
According to site plans for the road relocation, a section of West Bay road between Yacht Club in the north and the RBS Coutts building to the south would be taken out to expand the beach, construct a park and put in pedestrian and bicycle paths. As part of the road removal, the Esterley Tibbetts Highway, which parallels West Bay Road, would be extended to West Bay’s Batabano Plaza area.
The Dart group plans to build a “four or five star hotel” in the place of the currently vacant building that housed the Courtyard Marriott across the street from the beach.
The proposed road relocation has been one of the most controversial sections of the sweeping ‘heads of terms agreement’ government signed with Dart Realty Cayman, one of the Dart group’s subsidiaries, earlier this year.
At Tuesday night’s meeting, Young Progressives group president Denise Miller questioned why the National Roads Authority had conducted no studies on the road relocation, as the project appeared to be moving ahead sooner rather than later.
“It’s up to the people to decide whether they want their West Bay Road to be closed,” Ms Miller said.
West Bay MLA Cline Glidden Jr. said it appeared Ms Miller was going to oppose the road relocation project, no matter what a study might show.
“We have one road now in the corridor going to West Bay that has one lane northbound and one lane southbound,” Mr. Glidden said. “Do you need studies to show you that three lanes northbound would be better?”
Dart executive Jackie Doak said her company had completed thorough traffic studies in the area that included counting cars at peak travel times during the morning and afternoon rush hours. She said the company had given those reports to the roads authority and would make them public on its website in the near future.
West Bay MLA Rolston Anglin said he simply didn’t understand what the controversy over moving the section of West Bay Road was all about, calling it a “storm in a teacup”.
“I’m not quite sure what it is that people are saying is so culturally significant about a 2,500 foot piece of the West Bay Road,” Mr. Anglin said. “We’re talking about a 20 second drive that, for some reason, we should compromise what is ultimately true sustainable economic development.”
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Okay…what is the problem here people?
Lets look at the common sense facts here.
The existing road, is ONE ROAD into west bay. It is an existing bottleneck.
Dart proposes to move that road, away from the beach, and create ONE ROAD to westbay. Which it will still remain a bottleneck.
Maybe I am obtuse. But the only thing that is happening here, is a road is moved. Giving everyone ONE ROAD INTO WESTBAY. It is not the end of the world, it’s certainly going to change ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.
But what it will do, is create jobs. And those people that make money, spend money, helping everyone else make money. In turn, giving a little spark to the economy.
What …is….the…problem…here?
Dart wouldn’t spend 30 million on an abandoned property unless it was GUARANTEED. The deal to move West Bay Road was already set. It’s not about sustainable economic development, it’s about private enterprise making public policy. That will never benefit the people.
And Buck. I bet you think Dart is inventing the wheel here? Right?
Guess what. This type of business, goes on all over the world.
If it benefits all parties. Then it’s all good. Or are you the type that complains when other people make alot of money, but not when you do.
I find it strange that Mr. Bush says It’s going to happen, Mr. Bush said. So understand that you’re not going to stop it, because it is the right thing for these Islands and a better thing for West Bay.
In my opinion it is not the right thing and not a better thing for West Bay. You are giving away valuable scenery that makes for a very pleasant drive. This is to benefit Mr. Dart and no one else.
When one is driving on the road you should be paying attention to where you are going, not looking at the scenery. That is how accidents happen. All I hope is that this project puts a much needed jolt into our economy which is dire need of one.
Big Berd — you completely miss the point. There is one stretch of road from West Bay through Seven Mile where you can actually see the water, and this deal will move that one piece of road away from the water. It may not mean much to you, because you don’t live here and you don’t drive it every day. But for the people who live on the island, and who chose to live here so they could occasionally see the ocean, it’s upsetting that they will no longer be able to get a glimpse of it during their daily commute. I think that is a valid complaint for people to have.
With that said, I still support this project. Dart has been fantastic with the development of Camana Bay, and it is a highlight of the island. To me, Dart has earned itself credibility that they will approach the project in the best possible way, and that the end result will be as nice as they can possibly make it.
I think people have every right to be upset about losing a view of the ocean. The question becomes whether that sacrifice is worthwhile for the overall good of the island (the economy, better traffic management, etc.)
Okay, steve. Let me try to understand your point. Minus the fact that your complaining just because you are complaining.
You state that dart will ruin the scenery of the drive.
Well, i guess you work right at the start of 7 mile beach, and the road will block that whole 10 seconds you have now of ocean scenery.
Maybe you mean, dart is building a road around the entire island. So there will be no scenery left…no wait…this road is going to only obstuct maybe 500 meters of island.
So..you want to stagnate the economy even further, for your 10 seconds of ocean bliss. Wow…..
I bet you always wanted to be the first one to eat the ice cream, and there better be ice cream left when everyone else is done too, right? Your statement is selfish. You have 99% of the islands view surrounded by water. But because you wont’ see another 10 seconds of it. Darts idea is a bad idea. starts smashing my own head against the wall repeatedly.
People, wake up! Dart is for one thing: To make money and (with the help of government) play the game of monopoly! If he can change the roads and channel the traffic to pass by Camana Bay, his hotel and places of business, he can pretty much cut off the customers and clients of local businesses alonged the seaview road. This government is in alliance with Dart. Look… Dart’s monopoly is not going to better the economy, but it is going to end up hurting the economy, and the man will be able to fluctuate cost and price to his liking. Go to Wikipedia.org and type Vulture Funds. You want to better Cayman’s economy, lower fees and duties so the local businesses can thrive and create jobs. Don’t throw all your stakes out and hope in one man to dominate everything!
B.T. and Buck 1017, I think everybody is sleeping except you both! Below, Big bird is looking like he is more of a dart man by the way he supports this project, and Steve and Say looks like they are just missing the major crux of the matter – caught up about the view of the sea! I think only B.T. raises a very important point on the survival of the small local companies we have today. My question to B.T., is Dart really playing monopoly???
Apprentice, the answer to your question is obvious. Once upon a time, we had two cinemas, now one in Camana Bay. A monopoly exists when an enterprise or a person is the only supplier of a particular good or service. Dart Enterprise want to be the prime supplier of Cayman’s commodity. That is what Camana Bay is all about. It is suppose to be a small town and probably will one day take the place of many of the businesses in town. I suspect that the UDP Government is also reserving the benefits of this making of a new multi-monopoly. Ensuring that certain laws are enacted to help the rich man, they will be ensuring their next election as well. It seems like – Vote for them, you vote for Dart; and if you support Dart, you support the UDP. This is scary, but it looks like we are heading down the road of no return – selling out Cayman to big names. Anyone who thumbs me down, will have to prove me wrong.
B.T.
I’ve given you a ‘thumbs up’ and I’ll tell you why.
If you took Darts projects and the UDP government as two totally seperate entities, you would have it very difficult to make a case but at this juncture, they are obviuosly not.
This type of unbridled coalition between one of the richest investors in the world and a local government of a small chain of islands is very, very dangerous for the freedom and democracy of the free-market system and also the residents of the island.
Its always been my opinion that the foreign investors on the 7-Mile Beach have wanted, for many years, to cut off the beach from free local access and create a ‘no-go, security-guarded, limited access by permission only’ tourist and rich people only ‘township’ in Cayman, on the 7-Mile Beach.
The attitude of some of the bars, hotels, nightclubs and other establishments on the 7-Mile Beach has been one of discrimmination and disrespect to local residents for many years and only people sternly standing their ground has stopped segregation,as illegal as it is, of the 7-Mile Beach.
With this UDP party in government and now Dart closing off part of the West Bay Road, how long do you think it will take for my fears to become total reality ?
You will soon have police and security personnell at each end of the West Bay Road checking IDs for local people wanting to access the 7-Mile Beach, if these plans continue as they are going.
Mark my words and if I’m proven wrong, come back and properly chastise me.
BT
If you think voting in ANY OTHER PARTY will stop dart and it’s agenda.
You are a nickel short of a dart dollar, buddy.
In light of recent developments, can the Compass get an update from the Premier on his statement three months ago when he said It’s going to happen, so understand that you’re not going to stop it
And if you have time, please let the Minister with a CPA know that driving 2500 feet in 20 seconds is an average speed of 85mph.
Governor Duncan Taylor will demonstrate exactly what kind of governor he is if he accepts the 4,000 signatures on next week instead of being caught up into big business and greed as well. We really don’t know what kind of way this governor thinks, we just met him but I hope he does not disappoint the people of the Cayman Islands who will forever hate him if he lets them down and allows big business and greed, over the will of the people.