With the closing of the deadline for written submissions on the government’s proposed cruise berthing facility to the Cayman Islands Department of Environment, supporters of Cayman’s Port Cayman’s Future have urged Caymanian voters to continue the conversation with their Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) to ensure all mitigating measures that can be undertaken to protect the environment are considered.
Mr Tim Adam, Managing Director of Cayman Turtle Farm: Island Wildlife Encounter said in keeping with the spirit and intent of the RFP to identify and as far as possible quantify the various risks that need to be considered and dealt with in the project, the models used in the recent Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the proposed cruise berthing facility for the most part showed absolute worst case scenarios if no mitigating factors are used to protect the marine environment.
“Opponents talk of plumes of silt reaching as far as Treasure Island or Jackson Point, and neither of those are a reality nor representative of the responsible approach that should and would be applied to the construction and operation of the cruise berthing facility,” he said. “If you read the EIA, rather than relying on the perspectives of those with a vested interest in the keeping the status quo, you quickly discover that is only an illustration if no mitigating actions are taken.”
“Our group supports a scientific, risk-based approach to the management of dredging. The berthing facility can be developed in accordance with the principles of ‘avoid, mitigate, offset’ to manage the balance between economic development and environmental protection,” Mr Adam said.
“To be pro-port is not to be anti-environment. Any port design in any location could come with unintended consequences for the environment if not properly managed. Indeed not having cruise berthing, as has been the case for many years, has aspects that negatively impact the environment and risks that have already resulted in a lot of damage to the marine environment. That damage is not limited to the high-profile Rhapsody or the Carnival Magic incidents that immediately come into people’s minds. Let’s face it — damage occurs every time a ship drops anchor rather than pulling up to a dock. We support a plan that will provide a rigorous systematic approach to manage the balance between economic development and protection of our world-class underwater assets.”
Cayman’s Port Cayman’s Future believe the current port plan offers a compromise position that with the addition of practicable mitigation measures would cause the least possible environmental impact of any of the plans put forward in the last decade.
Mr Ronnie Anglin, Co-Owner of Captain Marvin’s Watersports and Owner of Cayman-in-a-Nutshell, said Cayman’s Port Cayman’s Future was supported by those who want to ensure there is open and honest debate based on facts surrounding the proposed cruise berthing facility – namely from the water sports, taxi and tours, retailers, restaurants, land and water-based attractions sectors.

“This is a decision that will impact the entire country,” he said. “Many have said it is only the retailers pushing back, but it’s an issue for all of us. Government income from cruise tourism helps to fund schools, hospitals, housing, roads and other important infrastructure that keeps our country running.”

“In addition to the cruise tourism issue, the EIA shows cargo traffic is expected to grow at about five percent per year. At that rate, the port will reach capacity within 10 to 20 years. The current proposal is the only design to date that provides a solution to Cayman’s growing cargo problem,” he said.

“It’s important that even though the date for written submissions to the DOE has closed, that we remember our opinions can still be heard by talking to our MLAs. This is too important an issue for the future of our country to let emotion dictate and to not have open and honest discussion.”