In the latest update on Cayman’s national development plan, the project team said it was preparing to put together a communications strategy and a Cabinet note.
The much-anticipated new plan, which has not been revised since 1997, once completed, will set out goals, objectives and guidelines for development and land use.
It is being created by the Central Planning Authority, the Development Control Board, and the Ministry of Planning, Agriculture, Housing and Infrastructure.
In a meeting of the authority on 8 Nov., a project team member provided an update on progress, according to the minutes published online on 24 Nov.
They said a communications plan would be prepared and forwarded to the authority for approval. The authority chairman was nominated as spokesperson.
This will include details of a public consultation process, website updates, and communication methods to engage and inform the public and stakeholders.
According to the minutes, the Department of Planning was to provide a draft planning statement for the 15 Nov. meeting which members could review.
Minutes for that meeting have not yet been released.
The project team member also said the Ministry of Planning, Agriculture, Housing and Infrastructure was preparing a Cabinet note that would be circulated for comment.
This will update Cabinet on the plan review process, schedule and progress to date.
Must be ‘done correctly’
A previous update on the plan was given during a meeting of the Central Planning Authority on 21 Sept., when planning officer Richard Mileham gave a presentation on its status.
He revealed that a joint ministerial team had been helping the Central Planning Authority to progress the plan for two months.
Mileham added that, prior to the meeting, authority members were given a ‘Project Delivery Plan’ with details on how and when they should be reaching certain targets.
In response, Central Planning Authority chair Ian Pairaudeau had said the timeframe was quite aggressive.
“The process has not been completed in 25 years and we must ensure it is done correctly,” he said, according to the minutes.
Mileham also referenced a second document, ‘Terms of Reference for the Planning Statement Working Group’, but no further details were contained in the minutes.
Planning statement
Minutes for the 25 Oct. meeting of the authority said the purpose of the Planning Statement Working Group is to oversee the drafting of the planning statement.
Throughout the process, the group will ensure authority members are continually updated and presented with the draft statement and other matters needing their review.
Meanwhile, the purpose of the NDP Project Delivery Team is to oversee the entire process with regular communication with and direction from the authority, the minutes said.
It is chaired by the chief officer in the Ministry of Planning, Agriculture, Housing and Infrastructure and meets every two weeks.
Last year, then Premier Wayne Panton said the multi-year project was unlikely to be completed before the end of the current government’s term in 2025.
Local environmentalists have expressed concern about the delay and say rapid unregulated development is depleting Cayman’s natural resources.
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The words “national development plan” rings like music to my ears, BUT what does this mean in this context!? It would be good to know IF there is a Project Plan, Project Manager, a Timeline, Milestones etc. etc. or is this just another headlines-grabbing and media sound-bites initiative? Even though it is 25 years too late, it would still be good to have a Plan and to determine what parts of these Islands can be preserved while generating progress.
Sadly, successive political Administrations and career politicians must hang their heads in shame on this concept of “long term planning” in these Islands.