Dear Editor

What we have to realize that the public was intentionally ignored about the For Cayman Investment Alliance deal.  It was only after all the plans were made that the public was informed.

When the road is closed it is bound to inconvenience Cayman. Not only the closure but when the work begins because constant work will have to be carried out which will at some point inconvenience all of us. This is left to be seen.

The For Cayman Investment Alliance is uneconomical. We cannot swap all of our assets because of the recession. What happens in the event of another recession? Then what do we have left to swap.

The Government has not even considered another plan to preserve its crown lands because one developer feels that he must have the portion of the West Bay Road for his gain. We have to say no to this. The Government must revisit this idea for a better plan. It is uneconomical. They have not given the public a chance for input for a better plan. What has been dumped on us is this madness to lose some of our very best lands. We are a smart people and we should have been able to come up with better solutions than the For Cayman Investment Alliance deal proposed only if our representatives had involved its people to participate in finding solutions to help deal with the recession.

This For Cayman Investment Alliance deal was long planned. Here is an example taken from a certain report. “For quite a while it has been recommended that the areas of Barkers and the Dyke Roads be excluded from the beach access claims because of a greater development framework was already under consideration.” It is now clear to see why the beach access claims have not been completed or registered so that the citizens may enjoy unhindered access to our beaches.  There is a good chance that we may lose them now.

Other countries are finding ways to deal with the worldwide recession and not exchanging their valuable lands to satisfy a particular developer alone.  Some countries, their representatives are taking a pay cut in salary. Also placing their hospitality workers back to work by not renewing work permits in that industry. For example, in Cayman there are 23,000 work permits and 1,000 Caymanians out of work. Could we not find the commitment to require of the big firms that they employ our people? That would mean only 1000 less work permits. There are much more than those mentioned to help put people back to work.  Why could not our representatives come up with some sensible ideas rather than the madness of the For Cayman Investment Alliance deal?

It is our right to protest this injustice and we should not be afraid to do so and when the West Bay Road is gone to a private developer then it is lost forever.

Ezmie Smith