The National Trust has thrown its support behind the National Conservation Act as it weighed in on the debate of development versus environment, saying that “it is difficult, if not impossible” to see how the legislation was seriously impeding growth.
The trust, which has a permanent seat on the National Conservation Council, issued a statement on Thursday endorsing the provisions of the legislation and stressing its importance to the preservation of the Cayman Islands’ ecological resources.
“The National Conservation Act (NCA) established processes to ensure decisions made today do not have a negative impact on our future. As can be seen in other countries and in Cayman’s past, decisions made without careful consideration of the environment can have unintended, unforeseen and irreversible consequences,” the statement said.
Over recent weeks, there has been a debate over proceeding with developments and the perceived hindrances faced by developers through the NCC and provisions in the law.
A new balance
Government has announced that it will be reviewing the NCC legislation, with Premier Juliana O’Connor-Connolly saying the aim is to provide a new balance between protecting the environment and considering people.
It is unclear what aspects of the NCC will be reviewed. However, 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”.
The authority delegated to the Department of Environment director has also been the subject of much debate and has even been challenged in court.
The trust said while development and change are a necessary part of life, Cayman must take a long-term view to ensure that short-term benefits are not outweighed by enduring costs to people’s health and quality of life.
“It is difficult, if not impossible to see how the NCA is seriously impeding development, as some might claim, when we see a skyline filled with cranes and rising buildings, once green spaces cleared to the ground, mangrove forests razed and filled, poorly planned seawalls leading to the disappearance of the peoples’ beaches, and historic structures torn down. Currently, the pace of development far outstrips the pace of protection on our islands,” the trust said in the statement.
The trust said it is “honoured and privileged” to have a permanent seat on the National Conservation Council and be part of the protection that the National Conservation Act provides to the people of Cayman.
As a non-governmental organisation, it said, the National Trust’s mandate is to serve the interests of the people of Cayman by protecting the natural and cultural heritage of the Cayman Islands in perpetuity.
“The NCA exists to promote and secure the biological diversity of the Cayman Islands, ensure the sustainable use of Cayman’s natural resources, and protect and conserve endangered, threatened and endemic wildlife and their habitats. The National Trust believes that the mandate of the NCA is more important now than ever,” it added.
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