For nearly 20 years, the question of how to resolve preserving the Ironwood Forest in George Town while also developing a road corridor to ease traffic congestion in the Cayman Islands’ capital sat unresolved.
However, during its 15 July 2026 meeting, Cabinet approved the proposal to designate, subject to public consultation, the Ironwood Forest's Crown land as a Protected Area. In the same meeting, Cabinet also approved the long-awaited Linford Pierson Highway extension between Outpost Road and Olympic Way along the forest's boundary.
“The NCFC Government’s decision has a dual purpose: to preserve one of Cayman's rarest ecosystems, while simultaneously meeting our people’s need for modern, effective roads infrastructure,” said the Premier, the Hon. André M. Ebanks MP.
“But in today’s world, equally rare is the means by which this problem was resolved,” he added. “This is the outcome of several Government bodies choosing to solve a problem together for the good of our country.”
The Ministry of Health, Environment and Sustainability; Ministry of Planning, Lands, Agriculture, Housing and Infrastructure; Ministry of Education and Training; and the University College of the Cayman Islands (UCCI) were instrumental in this process from the beginning, and they continue to work together as it moves forward.
By approving the proposal to designate the Ironwood Forest as a Protected Area, the initiative moves to the next step, which is public consultation on the protected area designation proposal. The National Conservation Council (NCC) will announce the consultation details in the coming weeks. Following consultation, the NCC will submit the final proposal to Cabinet for approval, after which the designation will be made official by gazettal.
For the road, Cabinet's approval sets the statutory process under the Roads Act (2005 Revision) in motion. The National Roads Authority (NRA) will proceed with a Declaration of Intent to take possession of the land required to open the highway extension, but no physical works will begin until all required environmental permits, mitigation measures, and management instruments under the National Conservation Act (2013) are in place. Survey and investigation work are already under way.
Once complete the extension will round out the Olympic Way Connector, improving access from Walkers Road to UCCI, John Gray High School and surrounding neighbourhoods.
The Ministry of Finance and Economic Development has confirmed the approval is not expected to have a material impact on Core Government's forecast financial position to 31 December 2026.
“We move forward when we choose to work together, rather than around – or to attack – each other,” Premier said. “This breakthrough also speaks to the immense value of the Cayman Forward initiative as a process for governing innovatively and finding common ground, to resolve problems that have stagnated for far too long.”
Minister for Health, Environment and Sustainability, the Hon. Katherine Ebanks-Wilks MP, welcomed the news for what it means for the environment.
“Ironwood Forest is home to certain species that aren’t found anywhere else in the world. By protecting it, we’re protecting the uniqueness of our Islands,” she said. “This is a proud day for the Cayman Islands. Many countries grapple with balancing environmental protection and developing modern infrastructure, as we’ve done for decades. But this Government and our people are demonstrating that with integrity and vision, both priorities can be met.”
Minister for Planning, Lands, Agriculture, Housing and Infrastructure, the Hon. Johany “Jay” Ebanks, JP, MP, said the announcement demonstrates that responsible development and environmental stewardship can work hand-in-hand.
“Good infrastructure and a healthy environment are not competing interests,” he said. “When we plan properly, they support each other. This approach allows us to deliver the road improvements our community needs while protecting an area that matters deeply to our people. That is responsible planning, responsible governance, and it is good for Cayman.”