Activists call for referendum on EWA’s B3 choice: Cayman News Service

(CNS): Sustainable Cayman, the leading environmental advocacy group in the Cayman Islands, called on the government to ask voters what they want from the East-West Trunk Road extension. Cabinet said it had chosen the B3 route, but given the Department of Planning’s Misleading advertising The government has chosen the “best for the environment” path, and activists want the people to decide.

Sustainable Cayman said the decision was “politically motivated” and likely to disregard the needs of the Caymanian people, arguing that large infrastructure projects should always consider the wider impact on the environment, economy and social fabric.

A spokesman for environmental campaigners said: “With immigration numbers expected to grow to 250,000, there is a real risk that Caymanians will become a smaller minority in their own country and their cultural identity could be eroded.”

“Given the lasting impacts of the EWA project, this decision should not be made without direct public input. We are calling for a referendum question voteAllowing people to choose the most sustainable option between B2 and B3 routes based on an expert shortlist evaluation report.”

The group argues that this will ensure that “decisions reflect the will of the people” and take into account the real needs of the community, not just political or private interests.

From the outset, the EWA project has raised significant concerns due to the impact it will have on the Central Mangrove Wetlands and its failure to address traffic congestion for commuters in the eastern part of Grand Cayman without any other traffic mitigation measures.

These concerns have increased significantly following reports in the past few weeks Right now CIG chose route B3This would pose a greater threat to the environment than the B2, which is a slightly shorter, cheaper and more environmentally friendly option.

“While we recognise the complexity of these decisions, the claim that the B3 route is the best environmental option is incomplete and raises critical questions about the decision-making process,” the sustainability spokesperson said in a press release last week.

“The government’s claims lack the necessary hydrological and peat depth assessments, making it difficult to accept the B3 route as ‘environmentally optimal’. Although the government claims that the B3 route offers favourable construction conditions, this claim is unfounded without a complete design and hydrological analysis,” the activists said.

Wetlands are an important part of the Cayman Islands ecosystem, providing flood protection, carbon sequestration and species habitat, so the decision to cut through these sensitive areas, even while avoiding direct impacts on National Trust lands, raises serious concerns about the government’s commitment to environmental stewardship. Wetlands are an important part of the Cayman Islands ecosystem, providing flood protection, carbon sequestration and species habitat.

Campaigners said labelling the B3 route as the most environmentally optimal in the context of the global climate emergency was “misleading and irresponsible”, pointing out that the route prioritises short-term infrastructure goals over long-term environmental sustainability, as RSPB Route Corridor Options Report.

“This could cause irreversible damage to our islands’ natural resources and undermine our ability to respond to climate change,” they said.

The group Sustainable Cayman argues that the long-term consequences of fragmenting the Central Marshes must be carefully considered. Activists warn that the decision will affect Caymanians for generations and are urging government to reconsider and conduct a comprehensive assessment.

“This moment requires collaboration, partnership and a commitment to true democracy,” the nonprofit said, calling for the construction of the road to be included in any referendum government plan. Topics raised as potential referendum issues include the proposed freight port.

“We ask that the government engage with the public, value transparency and choose a path that ensures the well-being of our island, our community and our future,” they said.

Government claims that the road will be environmentally friendly by reducing greenhouse gas emissions are contradicted by the EIA and the findings of multiple experts. Sustainable Development Cayman is not alone in calling for a more comprehensive analysis.

Potential reductions in transport emissions must be weighed against the environmental costs of peat removal and potential industrial activity along the route, which would make room for further development of the wetlands, a stated goal of many community leaders and former politicians, as one report points out. Recent Case Studies Submit to the Central Planning Bureau.