Savannah MP Heather Bodden owns a large tract of land on the proposed route of the controversial East-West Arterial extension, and was among politicians who voted in favour of abandoning an environmental impact assessment along the section of the road next to her property.
Bodden is one of four directors of Jay’s Heritage Holdings, a company that owns 293 acres alongside the proposed extension route. The company applied for the land to be rezoned for commercial use, citing the potential for business and housing development once the road goes in.
The application – which would likely have raised the economic value of the land – was refused following a recommendation from the Department of Environment that any rezoning decisions should be deferred until after a full environmental impact assessment was completed.
In April, Bodden supported a motion in Parliament to drop a planned EIA on the first part of the road project in order to get the extension done faster.
At no time, during her speech, did she mention that her company owned land along the route and could potentially benefit from expediting the EIA process.
The Compass reached out to Bodden for a response, via email, phone and WhatsApp, but did not receive a reply.
Bodden voted in favour of a private member’s motion brought by West Bay West MP McKeeva Bush, and seconded by Bodden Town West MP Chris Saunders, to drop the EIA for the section of the East-West Arterial extension between Hirst Road and Lookout Gardens. Bush stated that this section passed through a less environmentally sensitive area than the final stretch of the extension from Lookout Gardens to Frank Sound Road.
The National Conservation Council, under the National Conservation Act, is requiring an EIA of both sections to be carried out. A public consultation process, which included town hall meetings and the submission of emailed comments, has taken place to draw up the scope of the EIA.
In her brief comments in the debate, Bodden supported dropping the environmental study for the section of road, saying she acknowledged that it was a “national issue of importance” that needed to be done “properly”, but also “quickly”.
She said, “For so many years, we’ve heard the road was going to go through or be built, yet it still sits there waiting for a few machines to begin the job.”
The debate in Parliament was unanimously supported by Cayman’s MPs, which led to consternation among the islands’ conservation groups, who said completing the EIA was vital before the construction of the proposed extension goes ahead as parts of the road pass through “the largest intact mangrove system in the Cayman Islands and Caribbean”.
Rezoning application
The Central Planning Authority heard the application from Jay’s Heritage Holdings on 22 Nov. 2022, in connection with its land, Block 31A, Parcel 29, in Savannah/Newlands, to amend the 1997 Development Plan from ‘Agricultural/Residential and Low Density Residential’ to ‘Agricultural/Residential, Low Density Residential and Commercial’.
The Department of Environment, commenting on the application, “strongly” recommended that there should be no rezoning of land along the proposed road corridor until the results of the EIA were available “to properly inform those decisions”.
It added, “Determining this application prior to receiving the results of the EIA would be premature and would set a precedent for other landowners along the road to rezone.”
The Central Planning Authority, in its decision on the application, resolved “to not pursue the proposed rezone as it is not consistent with the draft National Planning Framework” which the authority had submitted to the Ministry of Planning on 29 Sept. 2022.
In its application for rezoning, Jay’s Heritage Holdings stated that if and when the road extension is constructed “there will be the need for commercially zoned lands to provide for the motoring public traversing the arterial and nearby residents”.
It noted that the proposed extension dissects the site in two on the southern quadrant, and that the area south of the road is 46 acres and the area north of it would be approximately 247 acres.
The land, located to the east of North Sound Estates, is currently vacant and undeveloped.
In the Register of Interests for Members of Parliament, Bodden is listed as being a director in a company called Jay Bodden Heritage Holdings, while the Companies Registry lists her as a director of Jay’s Heritage Holdings.
As well as Jay’s Heritage Holdings, the Compass has ascertained there are a number of other companies and individuals who own land along the proposed road extension area, including the National Trust, but no other elected MPs.
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The National Conservation Council in 2016 said this road extension required an environmental impact assessment. EIA. Why has it taken 7 years for this assessment? Or have they even started? If they start now, how long do they suggest it will take, another 7 years or is it a 90 day study? I have not idea just curious. Once this 10 miles stretch is built including a dedicated bus lane, then we can start to have affordable housing!
How many of these environmentalists live in Bodden Town, North Side or East End? As I understand it, the road was gazetted before any requirement for an EIA and in my humble opinion should be built now – should have been built a long time ago. Zoning is a different matter and zoning laws will control development along the roadway. This story makes it appear that Miss Heather voted for the road to go ahead because she owns land adjacent – it is unfair to her. She has always voted her conscience. She lives in Savannah and sees the mess every morning and evening during school term time. I would suggest that next time, interview the target of stories such as these to get their side of the issue.
Wow, a minister who owns the land that will explode in value pushing through a motion to bypass a legally required environmental assessment for a road that will only funnel more traffic into the existing bottlenecks. I think it is becoming clear for everyone now to see how this road is being built for!!
Chris L – the EIA is NOT legally required. The road was gazetted before EIA laws came into effect. You cannot pass retroactive laws – at least not in first world countries. As John John and other MP’s have said, this road should be built now. And anyone who knows Miss Heather would not make a suggestion that she pushes anything through for gain. Sorry, but must respectfully disagree.
Hi Paul,
Hahaha as John John has said… you are really funny. As if when another politician says something it now somehow is a fact that this road is needed. This road will just feed more cars into the existing bottlenecks and unless all the land around it is rezoned to “mangroves” the entire area will be completely destroyed and turned it soulless developments like we see everywhere here. These sub divisions will just put cars onto the road, again feeding into the existing bottlenecks. How can a politician not remove themselves from voting when they have such clear conflict of interest? It seems to me there must be some law against this? At least that is what you would think in what you call “a first world country”.