The above is one of the most famous lines from the pen of William Shakespeare. It’s from “Hamlet” and although my quoting it has nothing to do with the character in the play, it came immediately to mind when I saw “a peaceful protest” is being planned this Saturday.

We have so many protests going on now that they undermine the really serious ones. And so many “peaceful” ones start out that way but attract the wrong elements who join just to cause as much mayhem as they can. There is safety in n umbers.

I am not suggesting this protest I mentioned above is going to end up in violence, far from it. However, what this protest is about escapes me.

The protest is aimed at stopping the government’s planned enhancement project at the Smith Barcadere.

Why?

Apparently, the objectors believe the enhancement will encourage tour operators to drop off cruise ship passengers there.

The cost of the project is going to be two million dollars.

There is a vacant property immediately behind the existing parking lot across the road that could be acquired for the use of parking at Barcadere that would provide three times the parking that is planned.

There is absolutely nothing to give any substance what-so-ever to these claims from the protestors.

As Barbara Conolly, MLA for the District where Smith Barcadere is located, has stressed, there will be no commercial activity at Smith Cove. They don’t believe her. However, to reinforce what she has said, there are covenants in place to restrict commercial activity in that area, Therefore, THERE CAN BE NO CRUISE SHIP PACKAGES, TOURS OR GROUP ACTIVITIES CONDUCTED AT THE BACADERE!!!

Tenders for the project are out at the moment and the budgeted costs are nowhere near this figure, so let’s wait and see what the actual true figure is before making this assumption.Where did the figure of two million come from? “We have our sources” is the cry.

So now government should actually try and make the project come up to the above figure by purchasing this vacant car parking lot that the owner won’t sell, or wants too much money for.

I sympathise with Conolly. I truly believe she really did want to do something positive for her constituents. It is a well known fact the area at night is “swinging” with drug users and sexual acts. At least these people do practice safe sex by the used condoms found there.

So who is really behind this protest? There has to be more too it.

Conolly has publically saidd, “Smith Barcadere will be a park and beach where all Caymanians can come and enjoy. It is a treasured beach spot for families to swim and spend time together and our vision for it is to do what we can to enhance what we already know and love. We will be adding additional restrooms that will offer the disabled full accessibility, an improved parking lot and environmental friendly lighting,”

Now what can possibly be wrong with that?

“Some persons doth protest too much, methinks”