The Cayman Islands Government has published the findings of the Cayman Forward Initiative, setting out nine recommendations for planning reform and environmental decision-making across the islands, as it seeks to replace the 1997 Development Plan after nearly three decades.

The initiative, led through a three-month structured dialogue and a full-day summit on June 5 involving government and private-sector representatives, sought to identify reforms across legislation, regulation, policy and procedure. The recommendations were approved by Cabinet on Wednesday, July 8, and the Government said implementation would be phased over four timeframes, with any legislative or regulatory changes subject to the usual public consultation process. Premier Andre Ebanks has pledged to have the new Planning Statement before Parliament by the end of this calendar year.

The message from Ian Pairaudeau, Chair of the Planning Authority, at Friday’s briefing to the press was clear:

"The days of uncontrolled development are over. Anyone that thinks that we can, they must be on a different planet.”

A shared approach to development and protection

The report suggests that development and environmental stewardship do not need to be treated as competing goals and that there has been long-running tension between development interests and conservation bodies, with disputes often leading to delay and legal challenge. It presents the new framework as a way to reduce that friction, which had often led to delays, legal disputes and division between the Central Planning Authority (CPA) and the National Conservation Council (NCC).

The Government says the initiative aims to create a shared decision-making framework. Environmental and development interests have often disagreed over how planning decisions should be handled, and the recommendations would shift some responsibilities and timelines within that system.

The process has been supported by ForgeFront, a UK-based consultancy with experience in complex policy issues and included consultation with a range of stakeholders before the final recommendations were presented to Cabinet.

Premier André M. Ebanks says the initiative is intended to bring development and environmental protection into a single decision-making framework.

He said: "The current situation is costing us time, money and trust, and is one of the many long-standing issues the NCFC government is determined to bring new and innovative ways to solving. The Cayman Forward Initiative is an important first step with a clear path forward towards better collaboration and improved outcomes for the people of the Cayman Islands."

Lack of private sector representation

Notably, the Cayman Forward Report does not identify the names of the private-sector individuals or entities engaged during the research period. However, a list of summit participants provided by the Office of the Premier records representatives from across Cabinet and the civil service. The only two participants who appear to be directly associated with the private sector - rather than elected officials or government or third-sector staff - are Abraham Thoppil and James Bergstrom.

The Caymanian Journal has reached out to the Office of the Premier's Communications Division for clarification regarding the apparent lack of additional private-sector representation and will update this article should further information become available.

What the recommendations propose

The Cabinet-approved package is designed to change how decisions are made and how quickly decisions are reached. The Government says the recommendations will be implemented in stages over 0–30 days, 30–60 days, 60–180 days and beyond 180 days. It has not yet set out what each phase will cost, which actions are priority spending, or how success will be measured once the taskforce begins work.

In the first month, the focus includes establishing START, short for the Strategic Taskforce for Action, Reform and Transformation. That taskforce is to deliver the recommendations in the report and develop the legislative changes needed to support a shared decision-making framework. It is to be led by the Office of the Premier and include government lawyers, along with representatives from the Department of Planning, the CPA, the Department of Environment and the NCC.

The report also calls for defined categories of planning decisions in Grand Cayman to be delegated from the CPA to professional planning officers.

Other early actions include introducing binding timelines for how quickly the NCC and CPA must respond to referrals and applications. The recommendations also call for the National Conservation Council, the CPA in Grand Cayman and the Development Control Board in the Sister Islands to regularly and consistently publish minutes and the rationale for decisions. The Government says this will increase transparency and accountability.

Planning statement to go to Parliament later this year

The Cayman Forward Initiative also recognises the need to accelerate an updated National Development Plan to guide future development and land use in the Cayman Islands. The Ministry of Planning, Lands, Agriculture, Housing and Infrastructure is making final edits to the Planning Statement, which have already gone through public consultation.

The Cayman Forward Initiative sets out an ambitious timetable for changing how planning and environmental decisions are made, but the success of the reforms will ultimately depend on how effectively they are implemented. With the Planning Statement expected before Parliament later this year and legislative changes still subject to consultation, the next phase will determine whether the Government’s promise of a more coordinated and transparent planning system can be delivered in practice.