Government is planning changes to the National Conservation Act to provide a new balance between protecting the environment and considering people, Premier Juliana O’Connor-Connolly said Friday.
Speaking on Radio Cayman’s ‘For the Record’ show, the premier said she was moved to correct what she described as misinformation about discussions that took place during a ‘retreat’ for government leadership on Cayman Brac earlier this week.
“It was erroneously reported that we intended to gut it,” she said, in reference to the conservation law.
It was unclear what report she was referring to and the premier gave few details about what government considers the problematic parts of the law. She was not asked any questions on the matter during the appearance on government radio.
Certain provisions of the law have been questioned by some, including the Central Planning Authority, which has described the conservation-related approval process as a “circus”.
One such provision is the requirement for the Central Planning Authority to seek advice from the National Conservation Council on development applications and, in some cases, where environmentally protected land is impacted, to follow that advice to the letter.
The requirement for major infrastructure projects, such as the East-West Arterial extension or pending proposals for a new cargo port or an extended airport runway, to undergo environmental impact assessments, is also considered contentious by some. The Department of Environment has always defended the provisions, insisting that the advice of experts is needed to minimise or mitigate any negative impacts from development on Cayman’s natural world.
Speaking cryptically, the premier said, “We believe that in order for the environment to be properly protected it also has to include a consideration of the Caymanian people.
“I think that it was never the intent that the National Conservation [Act] would be executed in such a unilateral fashion that the people that you’re hoping to preserve it for are feeling the pinch of a size-six shoe when it should be a size-nine shoe.”
She also made reference to ‘conflicts of interest’ of people carrying out administrative duties and acting as voting members, but gave no specifics and was not asked to elaborate.
She said any changes would go through caucus and out to public consultation.
Katherine Ebanks-Wilks, the new Minister for Sustainability, who also appeared on ‘For the Record’ Friday, added that elected members would liaise with ministry staff over any legislative reform. Ebanks-Wilks appeared alongside Neyka Webster, who was introduced as the acting chief officer in the ministry. No mention was made of Jennifer Ahearn, who held the role until recently but appears to have now moved out of the ministry.
Legislative plans
The premier said the conservation law was just one of a number of pieces of legislation under the microscope during the retreat on the Brac.
She said a national referendum was also discussed. She didn’t specify the topic but previous plans were hatched for referendums on decriminalisation of ganja and gambling, and Tourism Minister Kenneth Bryan recently proposed reviving the referendum on cruise piers.
O’Connor-Connolly said her administration was also planning timetabled legislative sessions, with the first scheduled for 26 Feb., pending the approval of the Speaker.
A new Tenancy Act is on the cards for that session.
The findings of the electoral boundary report and Election Act reforms are also expected this year.
The premier said she has requested a report on campaign financing reforms, despite acknowledging it was “a delicate subject” that many politicians did not want to discuss.
“The public wants to discuss it, so I have to try to find the balance to move that forward,” she said.
New Brac projects
There was also a rundown of new projects from Wilbur Welcome, chief officer in the Ministry of District Administration and Lands, part of the premier’s portfolio.
These projects include three new community centres, repurposed from disused buildings, on Cayman Brac; the expansion of day care coverage on the Brac; and a new building to house construction staff working on major projects, which he said could eventually be reused for other purposes, including sports tourism.
Meanwhile, a government spokesperson, in answer to Compass questions earlier this week about the planned changes to the conservation law, said it was one of many matters that was being discussed.
“Several pieces of legislation were considered but no determinations on legislative reform have been made at this stage. While efforts to review existing legislation and introduce new bills are an important part of the work ahead for the new administration, we are only having discussions at this stage,” the spokesperson said via email.
Additional reporting by Reshma Ragoonath.
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You mean the government is actually going to do something. I waited 5 years to move in to Seacrest because the government keep slowing down the project Have been living here for 4 months and still no sign out on the street and no land transfer. Everyone I talk to around the island has the same problem. When is the government going to wake up and start getting things done????
A new$50million High School, three new community centres, expansion of day care, all on the Brac – is all this activity after the change of Govt. just a coincidence. Will they get all their roads repaved?.