You have to give to get.
That’s the way it is in Cayman’s new reality.
Gone are the days when developers would do anything to be
here; these days, if we want suitors, we had better be prepared to court them.
Somehow, perhaps because the Dart Group was in a bit of a
desperate situation, our government was able to extract an unbelievable
price for what it did give in a breathtakingly huge deal.
The government gave up a lot, but it got much, much more in
return.
Let’s start with the George Town Landfill, a problem so bad
that it threatened our precious North Sound in ways that dredging never
could. We’re not sure why the Save Cayman group never said a word about
the threat of toxic pollution leaching into the North Sound when there was
photographic evidence of it, but pollution would end the viability of Stingray
City more definitely than silt ever could.
To deal with the Landfill problem in a way that protects the
North Sound in the long run, it needs to be closed, capped and remediated and
another solid waste disposal facility created elsewhere. The Dart Group will
spend the $59 million to do exactly that.
While the agreement with Dart is ultimately a development
deal, it is actually good for our environment overall.
Cayman also gets needed road infrastructure with the
extension of the Esterley Tibbetts Highway all the way to West Bay. The
Government certainly has no money to take on this kind of capital project and
the fact that it will be able to get this done with its current budget woes is
nothing short of remarkable.
This deal will also get construction going again, creating
jobs and stimulating the economy. It will likely also get the ball rolling on
other projects here and Cayman is probably heading for a long construction boom
that will rival anything we saw in the good old days.
Yes, Cayman gave up some things, but all of this and more
won’t cost the government one cent out of its coffers. That’s a great deal no
matter how you look at it.
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Looking over the first report, a few things came to my mind.
1. Dart just bought the Cayman government…
2. … with the possible exception of the Immigration Dept.
3. There are going to be a lot jobs in this deal…
4. … for Tradesmen.
5. Too bad Caymanians all want to be contractors, and not tradesmen.
6. The Devil will be in the Details.
It will be interesting to see how this all plays out.
I truly believe the whole Save Cayman project was instigated by people with their own political agendas, they are just using it to rally the people for a cause just to gain political ground else they would also be attempting to rally the people about things such as the landfill and the escalating crime on the island. Make no mistake about it politicians all have their own agenda, none of them put the needs of the people above their own.
Mac although he surely has his own agenda needs to be commended for pulling this together and not pushing the dart group away like some have suggested, whether the people like it or not the Dart group is bailing the island out, which is something neither the CIG or the people were in a position to do. I cannot wait to see what opposing parties and people against foreign investment and change have to say about this one.
And as for Dart, his will definitely get his cut out of this in the long run but luckily Cayman will benefit as well.
I would not be surprised to see Dart himself one day running for the job of Premier as an independent after it seems he’s done more for the island than anyone else who’s held office. And he certainly has the funding to launch a huge Campaign..
Billy Bodden must be turning over in his grave to see the newspaper that he started write The government gave up a lot, but it got much, much more in return., based on the scant information released.