A government minister was ordered to withdraw remarks that could be seen as an incitement to violence during a fiery debate over the future of a beach traditionally used by fishermen.
Speaker of the House Sir Alden McLaughlin told Tourism Minister Kenneth Bryan that he had “crossed the line” as MPs debated a motion to consider the compulsory purchase of Red Spot beach in George Town.
Bryan said that he backed the motion with “every atom in my body, every inch of my soul and every drop of blood in my body”.
He added, “And I hope to God that this piece of land doesn’t cause anybody else’s blood to drop”.
McLaughlin interrupted and told Bryan, “I know you know you have crossed the line.
“In this day and age, we do not want to even seem to incite violence and that’s what that does.”
He told Bryan to withdraw the remark and ordered that it should be struck from the Hansard official record.
Bryan pointed out that he had said he “hoped it would not” cause violence. The speaker hit back, saying, “No more ‘buts'”.
The clash came as MPs discussed a bid to break an impasse over the future of the beach with the motion to take over two pieces of land, parcels OPY5 and OPY7.
The motion was moved by veteran politician McKeeva Bush, MP for West Bay West, and seconded by Bodden Town West’s Chris Saunders.
Bush added an amendment to his original notice to ensure “the possibility of a fish market” on the site.
He told MPs the area was of “significant importance” to the heritage of Cayman and that the “compulsory acquisition of Red Spot to facilitate and protect the continued sustenance of the fishing community of the Cayman Islands” should be considered.
Part of the site is owned by businessman Chris Johnson, who plans to turn the small bay on North Church Street into a “park-like site” for cruise ship visitors and residents.
Johnson had applied to the Central Planning Authority for permission to build stairs and a ramp to allow for easier public access on his plot, which surrounds the public beach.
Fishermen who operate at the site have resisted those plans and have sought the intervention of the courts.
Bush said, “Governments in the past, Mr. Speaker, have tried to get cooperation on this matter. This government has tried to get cooperation, all to no avail.
“But this is a matter for the public good. As government, we do not propose to allow this matter to languish any longer. It must be dealt with now.
“That property has been used for generations and we propose that fishermen continue to use it.
“It’s very convenient, a very convenient location and allows the fishermen to make a living.”
He added, “I would like to see a fish market there and hopefully it would be kept simple, island style.”
Bush said he hoped the owner, who was not named in Parliament, would agree to sell and compulsory purchase action would not be required.
Premier Juliana O’Connor-Connolly said the administration backed Bush’s motion.
She added the deadlock over Red Spot was “a long-standing matter” and that several attempts had been made over the years to strike a deal to buy it.
O’Connor-Connolly said the matter had reached “pretty much a tipping or a boiling point where the owner obviously has his rights because he legally owns it. But we just ask him if he’s listening or if there’s anyone in the chamber who still has access … to the proprietor of the two parcels there, they would impress upon them Cayman has been good to both the owners.”
Deputy Premier André Ebanks said one of the owners was his constituent.
He added, “I have never detected evasiveness or unwillingness to sell. He had outlined in pretty significant detail prior attempts that for one reason or another have stopped and started.”
Ebanks said he had promised his caucus he would contact the owner. Although an article in the Compass “may have ignited particular passions on his part”, he said, he had still not noticed an unwillingness to sell or “come to some other arrangement for the use of the fish market”.
He added he hoped that the motion would be regarded as a “last resort” and that an amicable solution could still be reached.
Johnson has been contacted for comment.
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“That property has been used for generations and we propose that fishermen continue to use it.”
This statement is domonstrably not true.
They are not “fishermen” they are squatters and they have not ben there for even one generation.
The Cayman Is used to try prevent informal trading, “higglers” by another name.
Chris Johnson has always made it clear that he wants his beach to be freely used by the people of the Cayman Is and our cruise ship visitors.
Why then does the government not support his wishes and have the illegal structures built by the higglers without planning permission or coastal works permit removed as is the law of the land.
“Common good”? No! Undermining property rights? Yes. Good job CIG.
Sorry Chris. You’re still drif’wood after 56 years here.
The Minister of Tourism is working himself into a frenzy about a 50ft piece of beach used by vendors, not fishermen who sell fish out of ice chests sourced from non Caymanian commercial fishing boats. There is no parking at this location, causing traffic congestion. Why not relocate them to the tourist market where there is parking.
The Minister needs to redirect his attention to something far more important – the loss of so much sand along the West Bay Beach. This erosion has been going on for years and is getting worse, and will have far reaching adverse results on our tourism industry if not addressed. So far not a word from Mr Bryan who seems far more concerned with Red Spot beach which has no hotels or condominiums located on it.
Amen to that! Mr Bryan is all about Mr Bryan.