The Cayman Islands Government appreciates that the beaches of the Cayman Islands are an outstanding natural and cultural resource that play an integral social and recreational role for the local population. Therefore, during 2016-2017 the Survey team in the Lands & Survey Department located, inspected and mapped all existing registered and unregistered beach accesses on Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, and Little Cayman and compiled a comprehensive Beach Access Report. This finalised Report was brought to Cabinet on 13th February 2018 and has been approved for public release.

“For the first time, there is now a comprehensive Report of all registered public rights of way to the beach, unregistered public accesses to the beach, and registered private rights of way to the beach, across Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, and Little Cayman. This Report will assist the local population to locate public beach accesses, and to report complaints of any breach of access. Furthermore, this Report will be a key source of reference for the Public Lands Commission (PLC), which has a statutory responsibility to protect the right of access to, and use of public land by, members of the public,” stated the Hon. Juliana O’Connor-Connolly, Minister for Lands.

The findings from the Survey team are presented in the form of a comprehensive 1,174 page Report detailing each access individually, including photographs and map extracts. The Report has been cross-checked against the Lands Register, and notes the legal width and status of the accesses. In regard to public accesses, the Report notes whether the accesses are clear or obstructed and the nature of any obstruction, and the presence or absence of public beach access signage. A copy of the Report has been specifically shared with the PLC, and correspondence has been sent to the Concerned Citizens Group informing them of the Report and where they may access a copy.

The report is available on the Ministry’s website (www.education.gov.ky) and the Lands & Survey website (www.caymanlandinfo.ky) for public viewing. It may also be viewed in hard-copy binder format at the Lands & Survey Department’s public counter on the ground floor of the Government Administration Building; at the Lands and Survey Office in Cayman Brac; and at the Post Office in Little Cayman.

The Ministry of Lands expects that this report will allow the Public Lands Commission to:
1) Clearly identify and arrange clearance of any registered public rights of way on Crown land that are currently overgrown.
2) Arrange construction of beach access signage for all registered public rights of way to the beach.
3) Take action under the Public Lands Law 2017 to ensure existing registered public rights of way to the beach over private land are clear and unobstructed.
4) Ensure the regular maintenance of all registered public access ways by the Recreation, Parks & Cemeteries Section of the Public Works Department.
5) Effectively intervene on behalf of the public to bring disputed cases to the Grand Court in seeking to register prescriptive public rights of way to the beach, by inviting affidavits from the general public evidencing continuous and regular use.

It is expected that the roll out of these initiatives by the PLC will significantly improve public access to the beaches.

The beaches in the Cayman Islands are internationally renowned and are one of the main factors contributing to the growth and success of the Islands’ tourism industry. The overall rapid coastal development in a relatively short period of time has underscored the need to openly and formally safeguard unimpeded public access to the beach for locals, residents, visitors and the next generations to come. The 2017 Beach Access Report, which is intended to be updated on a regular basis, will be a useful tool to continue to protect the public’s access to one of our most valued natural treasures.

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IMAGE: City of Lincoln City, OR