We trust Minister of Environment Wayne Panton recalls the above quotation, which he used to remonstrate the Cayman Compass for its opposition to the National Conservation Bill in late 2013, shortly before he and his colleagues in the Legislative Assembly passed the bill into law.
Nine months later – and with the National Conservation Law still not in effect, its regulations still not publicized, and the members of the Conservation Council still not known – we await explanations for the damage caused by an errant cruise ship anchor and chain to nearly 12,000 square feet of live coral.
The destruction wrought over a handful of hours on Wednesday, Aug. 27, is so severe that, according to Department of Environment officials, the precious reef may not be able to heal for some 60 years – assuming it does recover, under the pre-existing stressors of regular human interaction, warming sea waters and all manner of pollution discharge.
Here’s what we know: That morning, the 1,000-foot-long Carnival Magic cruise ship followed the directions of a Bodden Shipping Agency pilot boat (authorized by the Cayman Islands Port Authority) to a location near one of the four designated anchorage areas for ships in the George Town harbor.
For some reason – or a combination of factors that have not yet been elucidated – the cruise ship wound up some 650 feet beyond the designated zone, and dropped anchor on top of live coral near the Don Foster’s dive site. Suspicious of the ship’s location, the dive operator notified the Port Authority, then sent employees down to check for damage to the reef, which was horrifically evident. By noon, the cruise ship had moved to a coral-free site – but the harm had already been done.
The Marine Conservation Law (which will be folded into the National Conservation Law when it is finally put into force) makes it a criminal offense for a commercial vessel to damage coral with an anchor or chain, carrying a maximum penalty of a $500,000 fine, plus 12 months in prison, plus confiscation of the vessel and related equipment at the court’s discretion.
However, the Department of Environment, which is in charge of enforcement, says it is unlikely that any sanctions or fines will be administered, and the focus of the inquiry will be on prevention of future incidents – a frustrating position, perhaps, for our fellow lovers of nature, but a reasonable one if the presumption is an absence of intentionality or negligence.
As the hundreds of shipwreck sites around Grand Cayman attest, our local waters can be tricky, if not outright treacherous, and the inexact practical science of navigation is susceptible to accidents and errors made in all good faith, particularly when colossal vessels are attempting to coexist with delicate environmental ecosystems.
That being said, even if no criminal charges arise, it is undeniable that a massive amount of damage has occurred to valuable Crown property.
The fundamental question – which perhaps should be explored in civil court – is, “Who is responsible for this destruction?”
Will it be Carnival, which dropped the anchor? Will it be the captain of the pilot boat, who gave the directions? Will it be Bodden Shipping Agency, which employs the pilot boat captain? Or will it be no one in particular – meaning, all of us collectively? What role does the still anonymous Conservation Council have in this?
Will anyone take responsibility? Is anyone going to be held accountable for the destruction of our “sacred heritage”? Or is everyone hoping this incident dies a quick, silent death, like coral smashed beneath tons of steel?
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No, I do not think this should die a silent death. Surely someone is responsible, and if it has to be all who’s and wills’ stated above so be it. Someone should be held accountable.
Unless we get tough and take serious actions now, it will happen again, and it is high time we are stopped being taken for lackeys.
Minister Wayne I suggest you do what is correct, to prevent it becoming a ghost in your back yard.
The Dept. of Environment’s observation regarding the likelihood of no consequences should surprise no one. It symbolizes the inherent lack of accountability that riddles our country and is continually exposed to public scrutiny. Whether you examine pension administration, use of government credit cards, health care, trash collection, education-Government’s scorecard is found lacking everywhere. Why should environmental protection be any different? Whenever any problem is identified, the parties involved play hot potato and attempt to shift blame. Split the costs equally between all three participants: The cruise ship, the government and Bodden Shipping Agency. Ironically, the governor, during her Cayman 27 interview, commemorating her first year in office, was gushing about how pleased she was this legislation was passed. I can’t imagine why. We have enough inconsistently enforced legislation. We don’t need any more.
The inexact practical science of navigation?? Presumably the Caymanian Compass is not familiar with GPS navigational systems, now used on modern ships, which allow you to know, within a few yards, exactly where you are.
This is definitely something worth a protest if nothing is done and noone is held accountable, however I will believe that when I see it. I’ve come to realize that you don’t see many people up in arms over issues like this or even the dump, you know the issues that are truly a threat to the environment and the Caymanian way of life. I guess West Bay Road and Lovers Wall are more important or is it that politicians only rally the people together for things that they can benefit politically from.
In this case someone has to pay for mitigating as much of the damage as possible and it shouldn’t come out of the public purse. It should be those involved in causing the damage however small thier part.
The recovery efforts need to get started immediately or it will be harder to do later. There should already be crews down there rescuing surviving coral that may be packed under rubble.
You know what makes me so mad about this. Is the fact that they put a time for recovery for this site at 60 years. Now who came up with that number?? There is thousands of years worth of damage to that reef. Take if from someone who dove there at least 4 times in the last year before this incident and once two days after. I almost cried. It was the most mind numbing thing I have ever seen and I’m getting goosebumps just writing this. There are coral formations the size of SUV’s sitting at 150ft that used to sit at 60 feet before they tumbled down the wall. There is nothing but rubble left where there was a beautiful healthy reef filled with fish, soft corals, huge barrel sponges and numerous small caves that were teaming with life. How can you say no one will be held responsible for this destruction? This was not something that happened a short distance from the anchorage this happened wayyyyy off from where that ship was supposed to be. There could have been divers rite where that anchor dropped because there were divers in that exact spot the day before. Someone should be charged with gross negligence and reckless endangerment. If that anchor had dropped on someone what would they have told the persons family? Oh sorry we made a boo boo? That just doesn’t work. We ask why the younger generation does not respect the environment. Its because of things like this. If someone is not held responsible for this it is sending a message that it is ok to destroy or environment and no one will care. I hope That this does not get swept under the mat. I know I will not just sit around and shut up about this.
I highly agree with Johnathan, I’ve been down to that site a few times myself and plan to go back down there in a few weeks to take a look. Where are all of the MLA’s that constantly talk about damaging the environment why aren’t they screaming for justice and rallying the people. Why aren’t they out screaming at the top of their lungs that the recovery has to start immediately and that all those involved will need to bear the cost of it, not the people.
Answer, Because right now it doesn’t benefit them politically.