Your editorial of 20 April, 2012, has reminded me of one of the most important developments in infrastructure in Grand Cayman. I will record it here lest we forget.
In the late 1940s and early 50s, during the construction of the Owen Roberts International Airport, a little asphalt was left over from the paving of the runway and was used to create what we all called “the nylon road”. The nylon road was only about 300 feet long and commenced at the front of the old yacht club, now the Wharf Restaurant and continued beyond the parking lot to the Pageant Beach Hotel, which is no longer there. The marl and sandy road continued for the next 2,000 feet or so along the seacoast to approximately where the Beach Suites (ex-Hyatt Hotel) is today.
The road itself was not more than 50 to 100 feet from the surf. During northwesters and hurricanes motor traffic on the road was completely blocked between West Bay and George Town. There was no development whatever on either side of that section of the road.
A decision was made to relocate that section of the road to where it is today and “Real Estate” sales in that area boomed (at least at the prices of the day), and our tourism development in that area was up-and-running.
One of the very first developments in the newly created area was the Coral Caymanian Hotel, which was constructed by Dr. RE McTaggart and his associates. The establishment of the hotel brought Mr. Bill (not uncle Bill) McTaggart back home as manager. Soon afterwards we saw the Royal Palms Hotel, West Indian Club and the Beach Club Colony constructed.
One of the first beach houses to be constructed in that area was owned by Phil Lustig. He practically lived on the beach and spent a lot of money here in Cayman. In fact, Phil, along with others such as Clarence Flowers formed what is known today as Consolidated Water Company. That company provides potable water for the entire West Bay Beach area and has spread its wings overseas.
It is worthwhile remembering that at the time that the road was moved that Cayman was known and advertised as “The Islands that Time Forgot”. We had one regular cruise ship visitor – regular yes. It was the famous sailing brigantine yacht Yankee Clipper that visited every two years on its voyage around the world. There was the arrival of the small yachts and the local schooners, motor ships such as the Addie H, Antarus, Caymania, Cimboco, Kirk B, Kirk Trader, Merco, Radium, Sonar and others, but as for tourism? Our airport was still under construction when the road was moved.
The mere suggestion of relocating of the road there was, like today, objected by some people.
The recent decision to relocate another section of the same road is causing much discussion and objections; and rightly so. The change must be weighed in a balance and found to be beneficial to all concerned.
We are reminded that during strong northwesters and hurricanes that much of the road in the area that is presently being considered to be moved is also closed and that no substantial development can be done due to the proximity of the water.
I suggest that we all take a drive along the West Bay Road in the section from the Wharf Restaurant to the old Beach Club area and try to imagine the value of the development that is on both sides of the road. Imagine how many Caymanians were employed in those projects, how much trucking was involved in the construction, how many cement blocks were used, how many Caymanians employed, how many tourists have frequented those accommodations since they were constructed, air fares paid, tourist accommodation tax collected, travel tax paid, taxi fares, and how many homes are still being fed from work performed in that area and think of the unseen benefits of moving that road.
Now, imagine how much more development, commerce and profits can be realised if the road in that area is relocated as proposed.
What will we or our children say in 20 to 30 years when that area is visited? Is it wise to relocate the road? My guess is yes.
Richard E. Arch
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I appreciate Mr Arch’s hostorical perspective on the West Bay Road history and I for one agree with his conclusions. I look forward to hearing what the PPM stance is on the project.
But this time it seems to me that only one company will see a substantial profit if the road is moved. We, West Bayers, like the view from that road and it is good to have an alternate road when there is an accident on the Esterly Tibbetts highway; it has happened already. Why can’t they do what the Ritz and the Hyatt did, build a walkway bridge between the two sides of the street? If we close every street in Cayman that is flooded during bad weather that would include Harbour Dr./Church St. in central George Town. Think of how many times that has been flooded by Norwesters and hurricanes. How many times has the street in front of Burger King on the waterfront been flooded? Somehow Government always gets those streets cleaned up quickly after the bad weather subsides. Thank you Cayman Islands Government for all of your hard work, and I’m sure you will keep up the good works.