TV and internet company Logic has been given permission to put up a 130-foot 5G communications tower in North Side – despite an objection over health concerns.
It is part of the company’s mobile expansion, adding to its five 4G towers located in East End and George Town in Grand Cayman, and Spot Bay in Cayman Brac.
The Central Planning Authority approved the $150,000 plans for the tower, generator and battery enclosure on a vacant plot on Hutland Road following its 11 Oct. meeting.
During the meeting, the objector’s daughter Satia Whittaker spoke about the potentially boosted levels of radiation, according to the minutes, published on Thursday, 2 Nov.
She suggested that may increase the risks of radio-frequency sickness, cancer and biochemistry changes for those living nearby.
While their land is currently vacant, the family have plans to build, she added, and said her father, who has just undergone chemotherapy treatment, had hoped to move there.
Whittaker reminded that, as an alternative, her father had suggested Logic could position the tower 1,320 foot inland from their property to reduce the impact of radiation energy.
She also expressed concerns about the tower’s effect on local wildlife, such as endangering whistling ducks that live in the nearby Malportas Pond.
Higher tower
During the meeting, a member of the authority asked Arturo Ramirez, a representative for Logic, to comment on the likely harm from 5G communications equipment.
According to the minutes, Ramirez responded that there have been studies that “go both ways” and that all of the other companies will be adding 5G.
He said their tower would be quite high compared to others and, at 130 feet, the radiation would have no effect, adding that cellphones likely send out more.
The authority then went through a checklist to make sure there would be no adverse effects to the environment that would necessitate a referral to the National Conservation Council.
In the authority’s written decision, it said there were “no objections that raised sufficient grounds for refusing permission”.
It added that the health concerns that the objector raised were not within its remit to consider.
“The authority’s remit is with the physical tower itself, not what type of communication equipment is attached to it or the services it may provide,” the minutes said.
It explained that health concerns related to the use of the communication equipment fall within the remit of other regulatory authorities, such as utility regulator OfReg.
During the meeting, Logic confirmed that it has approval from OfReg for the 5G equipment.
According to the minutes, Ramirez said OfReg is “always pushing for new technology” and people want speed in their hands.
He explained that getting 5G would bring Cayman “up to par” with the rest of the world and would help government with new investment, according to the minutes.
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