In a Press Release sent to us on Thu (8) by the Protect South Sound Group they said  an agreement was reached with RC Estates bringing to an end the injunction proceedings recently brought by concerned Cayman residents to stop the dumping of fill into South Sound.

A spokesperson for the Protect South Sound Group said,

” A decision was made to seek to settle the recent proceedings to allow ‘Protect South Sound’ to concentrate all its efforts, resources and manpower on the forthcoming appeal of RC Estates’ original planning permission to the Planning Appeals Tribunal. The initial aim of the group to stop the dumping of aggregate beyond the disputed coastal boundary of Sound Sound was achieved and by taking the action we did we have allowed time for there to be a proper process up to that appeal. We have elicited concessions from the developer that will reduce environmental impacts should he restart his project before that appeal is heard. In this context we are looking forward to an early hearing before the PAT where all matters relevant to this planning permission can be considered.

“Whilst the decision to settle was a very difficult decision to make, it is necessary at this time for Protect South Sound to focus its resources on having the CPA’s 15th August decision heard and hopefully reversed by the Planning Appeals Tribunal.

“While this senseless and potentially unlawful destruction of the marine environment again reminds us of the desperate need for the National Conservation Law, in this case, with existing laws, the Government is empowered to take action to prevent the destruction of Cayman’s marine environment on what is very likely crown land.

“However the Attorney General has thus far failed to take action in response to requests from the DoE and MLAs to request an injunction to halt filling by RC Estates to allow time for the outstanding legal issues surrounding high water mark and fixed boundaries to be resolved.”

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