I was surprised when I read Cayman’s oldest and only daily print newspaper, the Caymanian Compass, produce an editorial that seemed to be attacking government’s National Conservation Law.

It was not for me to comment as it is an unspoken rule local media houses don’t do this. Every Editor has the right to give an opinion and if we don’t agree with it we leave it to someone else to state it.

In this case someone did. Cayman’s Environmental Minister, Wayne Panton, the man responsible for producing the Conservation Law.

He is furious.

The Minister, writing from London, sent all of Cayman’s media a copy of the letter he sent to the Compass’ Editor (see “Panton is furious at Compass” in today’s iNews Cayman).

“While I don’t expect the newspaper to support everything that Government does, at least show the people who read your daily missives the courtesy of reading the proposed National Conservation Bill and not relying on hearsay and rhetoric before making unfavourable comment,” he writes.

“There is absolutely nothing in the proposed legislation that lets government take people’s land to make protected areas, not even for private land adjoining government land that gets made into a protected area – NONE.

“There is absolutely nothing in this bill that gives Government the power to prohibit people from altering, developing or using their own land. The so-called plans you mention don’t even exist and nothing in the legislation gives the proposed Conservation Council authority to approve any plans. The Council is advisory. Members of Cabinet will be the ultimate decision makers and those decisions won’t be made until there has been extensive public consultation.

“You do this country a disservice by calling the draft legislation ill-conceived and ill-drafted.”

Not to be left in the shadows, ex –premier McKeeva Bush has also come out against the National Conservation Law (NCL) saying it is going to stop any investment not only from outside the country but from Caymanians here at home. He is going to have a public meeting to let everyone have their say, after he has had his, in the District of West Bay.

I hope he actually reads the NCL first as the bill is very easy to download so I beg everyone actually reads it from the government website and not rely on the Bush version.

I am not surprised Bush is against it as his government did absolutely nothing to protect the environment during all its various terms of governing. People were appointed to various boards who were openly opposed to any form of environmental protection or they said they were for it but this wasn’t the right time.

Bush actually quoted that self same philosophy today.

So when is it time to protect the environment?

As Panton says in his letter, “if we don’t do all we can to protect our environment, we will lose it. Future generations of Caymanians will not look kindly on this legacy”

He finishes with a quote from ― Theodore Roosevelt:

“Here is your country. Cherish these natural wonders, cherish the natural resources, cherish the history and romance as a sacred heritage, for your children and your children’s children. Do not let selfish men or greedy interests skin your country of its beauty, its riches or its romance.”

Can anyone disagree with that?