Government admits rare plant damage in Ironwood Forest clearing
CIG confirms preliminary clearing harmed rare trees near the Linford Pierson Highway extension, as a landowner disputes being consulted.
The Ironwood Forest dominated the day. Cayman News Service reports that the Cayman Islands Government admitted damaging rare plants during preparatory work linked to the proposed Linford Pierson Highway extension, while insisting no construction has begun. The Ministry of Planning, Lands, Agriculture, Housing and Infrastructure described the activity as preliminary, according to Cayman Marl Road, saying heavy equipment work has not started. The Cayman Compass reports that the National Roads Authority cleared private land in the forest, with landowner McGregor "Greg" Yates disputing that he was told any clearing would take place.
Conservation policy is contested elsewhere. The National Conservation Council has raised concerns about a draft bill to amend the National Conservation Act tabled by independent opposition MP Chris Saunders, CNS reports, saying it sees no apparent justification for the changes. The same MP's plan to strengthen regulatory oversight of CUC's fuel purchases has drawn industry reaction, the Compass reports in its piece on the utility's fuel purchase agreement. Cayman Independent reports that Little Cayman has advanced its UNESCO World Heritage bid, with the scope trimmed to appease landowners.
On business and employment, deputy opposition leader Kenneth Bryan blamed government policies for businesses' difficulties meeting pension payments, warning against "sledgehammer" enforcement, per Cayman Independent. Two government employees have pleaded not guilty to charges over allegedly fictitious overtime claims at the Department of Environmental Health totalling more than CI$4,400, Cayman Marl Road reports.
In tourism and transport, Cayman Airways passengers were stranded at JFK on Monday after a ground-handling vehicle damaged an aircraft amid a regional communications outage. Restaurant Month returns in October, and after 28 years, bed-and-breakfast Annie's Place has closed. Police are also investigating impersonation scams targeting people by phone and WhatsApp, the Caymanian Times reports.