Cayman Forward Initiative Sets Out Roadmap to Unify Cayman's Approach to Development and the Environment

Cayman Islands Government has today published the findings of the Cayman Forward Initiative, a structured dialogue process led by policy experts to identify reforms across the legislation, regulation, policy and procedures governing planning and environmental management in the Cayman Islands. The 3-month process included stakeholder consultation and a full-day summit attended by government and private-sector representatives, producing 9 key findings and 13 recommendations for Cabinet's consideration.

At its core, Cayman Forward rejects the idea that development and environmental stewardship are competing goals. For decades, tension between those focused on the built environment and those focused on the natural environment has produced delays, litigation and division between the Central Planning Authority (CPA) and the National Conservation Council (NCC). The Cayman Forward Initiative takes a different approach, bringing groups together to find solutions and a shared decision-making framework.

The recommendations produced by ForgeFront, UK-based consultants with wide experience in similar complex policy issues, were reviewed by Caucus this week and approved by Cabinet on Wednesday. Implementation will be phased across four timeframes — 0–30 days, 30–60 days, 60–180 days, and beyond 180 days — to ensure changes are sequenced and achievable. Any legislative or regulatory amendments arising from the recommendations will go through the usual public consultation process.

The immediate focus in the first month include:

• Establishing START (the Strategic Taskforce for Action, Reform and Transformation) to deliver the recommendations in the report and develop the legislative changes needed to underpin a shared decision-making framework. Led by the Office of the Premier, START will include government lawyers alongside representatives from the Department of Planning, the Central Planning Authority, the Department of Environment and the National Conservation Council.
• Delegating defined categories of planning decisions from the CPA to professional planning officers, to speed up responses to routine planning applications. As a result of the Cayman Forward Summit, the CPA has already applied to Cabinet for administrative delegation under the current Development and Planning Act as an interim step ahead of longer-term statutory reform.
• Introducing binding timelines for how quickly the NCC and CPA must respond to referrals and applications.
• Requiring the National Conservation Council, the Central Planning Authority in Grand Cayman and the Development Control Board in the Sister Islands to regularly and consistently publish minutes and rationale for decisions taken to increase transparency and accountability.

Hon. Premier André M. Ebanks said, “A thriving, well-built economy and a protected natural environment is not an either-or choice, we can design a future where our children have both. 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.”

The Cayman Forward Initiative also recognised the importance of accelerating delivery of an updated National Development Plan to guide all future development and land use in the Cayman Islands. The Ministry of Planning, Lands Agriculture, Housing and Infrastructure is currently making final edits to the Planning Statement that has already undergone widespread public consultation and will be brought to Parliament later this year.

A summary of the Cayman Forward process and findings produced by ForgeFront is published on gov.ky, alongside the full recommendations in the report. Further updates on implementation of the Cayman Forward Initiative's recommendations will follow as work progresses.