There is an old philosophical riddle that asks if a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?
If a tree fell in the George Town Ironwood Forest a couple of months ago, it could have been argued that it made no sound at all. If that tree were to fall today, however, the sound would likely echo across Grand Cayman.
The attention this forest – the last of its kind in George Town – is getting is good and it seems everyone has an opinion about the road proposed to go through it.
From the sense of traffic flow, a road that connects the Linford Pierson Highway to Walkers Road would do much to ease morning rush-hour school traffic, which in turn hinders traffic going into George Town. It would help the public save in fuel costs and time, and lessen vehicle emissions, something that would be good for the environment.
However, the proposed road would also take a fairly large piece of the irreplaceable ironwood forest.
Environmentalists want to see the road traverse the northern-most section of the forest or not be built there at all.
Of course there are land owners to consider as well, some of whom do not wish to sell their property. Moving the road north would affect even more landowners.
Minister of Infrastructure Arden McLean has offered a compromise solution, whereby the road detours around the largest portion of the forest on Crown land, just behind the University College of the Cayman Islands. Than land would then be ceded to the Cayman Islands National Trust in perpetuity for preservation.
The government hopes to purchase another six acres of forest land adjoining the 10 acres of Crown land to add to the preserved land.
This solution is far less intrusive as the plan that had a huge roundabout in the forest with roads heading off in various directions.
The compromise would be even better if government could buy other privately owned lands adjoining the forest to the south and east.
The George Town Ironwood Forest issue is one of those where you cannot please everyone. If the National Trust is able to preserve for perpetuity at least 16 acres of valuable land in George Town, the vast majority of people in this country should see this as a good compromise, as do we.
The George Town Ironwood Forest issue is one of those where you cannot please everyone.
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