Is a 'bar at the Sandbar' a good idea?

As much construction and ideas taking place here in Cayman if it keeps up soon there will be no more of Cayman land just a pile of building on water!

Got to leave what's left of Cayman alone! Geees talking about detroying Cayman's mother nature bad enough now, let alone talking about destroying our beautiful waters by putting a stupid bar!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am pretty sure our marine life would love to do without that foolishness in there surrounding!

Bad idea, very bad idea!!!!!!!!!!!!!

you all must wan people get drunk and fall overboard and drown themselves

Yes, the mangroves were destroyed and people were all over that issue - a few months go by and they are all up in The Ritz-Carlton eating and drinking and going to the spa or to tiffany's not too much to protest then.

Everyone hated the idea of Camana Bay.... Now where do you go to the Cinema?

Some people are such hypocrites. You complain today and a month down the road you, and 5 of your friends will be piled into a boat at the bar/resturant in the middle of the ocean with all the other peeps who had such an issue with it.

I am not agreeing with this whole floating bar idea because I think it is a load of crap! And it will ultimately cause the demise of the stingrays and tourism. HEADLINE NEWS: An american tourist drowned today at The folating bar at Stingray City in the Grand Cayman Island (the Caymens or some other name people give us).

Alcohol + Swimming + Stingrays = Some of the worst publicity Cayman will ever receive.

What next? Can I build a casino? 

I am a Caymanian but in the end that has nothing to do with the fact that the Government of these islands is doing nothing to preserve the island.  Government approved the licensing for the bar/restaurant at Stingray City so they are the ones that are not doing anything about preservation.  I support anyone who wants to open their own business as this stimulates the economy and puts people to work but not at the cost of the ecosystem.  When are the people, that we voted into office, going to start to listening to the people and start doing something to protect the island for future generations.  The way the government is going the only generation they are looking out for is their own generation.

First of all, to the person suggesting that its solely because this idea was introduced by a Caymanian that people are up in arms about it, how dare you? If Dart, or Ryan, or anyone, even a trusted family member were to propose this idea, I would still be as appalled and as disturbed by it.  I fully understand the argument about wanting to promote local culture and locally owned business, but it's absolutely inexcusable to want to do so in the middle of stingray city, which is arguable one of our most stunning and most valuable natural attractions. The idea of a floating bar in such a place (even with the new, more "acceptable" addition of the restaurant idea) is environmentally insensitive and blatantly disregards the threat that something of this nature would inevitably pose to our wildlife, our ecosystem and environment, AND the safety of visitors to stingray city.

It's true that as a people, we need to take steps to protect and promote our cultural heritage, but let me remind you all that it's not the stingrays' fault, and that we shouldn't be willing to sacrifice their health, their home, and their safety to meet out own goals. It's unfair and insensitive to effectively punish them for what we're upset about (what Bernie Bush argues is the lack of promotion of local culture) when it's not their fault, and has nothing to do with them. We can't fight cultural erasure by sending the message that it's ok to potentially erase the home and safety of an indigenous species.

The stingrays at stingray city are amazing, beautiful, indigenous animals that we as Caymanians should be protecting, NOT exploiting.

 

His Business plan keeps changing

It's so funny.  In the original article about Mr.  Bush's floating bar in the Compass.  See link here....http://www.caycompass.com/cgi-bin/CFPnews.cgi?ID=10387930 

There is not ONE mention of 'food' or 'retaurant'...it's ALL about a floating bar!!!

So why now the sudden change? 

Seems like it's a bad cover up to try and squeeze his way out of trouble...as if serving food makes it any better?

Now people can be drunk and stuffed...and swim back to their charter boats?????  That takes skill even for an experienced swimmer...much less a tourist on their first trip to our Stingray City...

Oh and a study was done not to long ago...by scientists..and you know what they found??

High levels of stress, poor immune systems, scars from boats, and irritation on the skin of all the poor stingrays at Stingray City...

That's why the DOE has tried to put better regulations on our MARINE PARK and WILDLIFE INTERACTION ZONE...

How does a floating restaurant and bar keep with those regulations...once all those stingrays die from their bad immune systems..who's gonna go to stingray city.  WEll...ENJOY befor they DESTROY

If you don't agree...savestingraycity@hotmail.com Find out how you can help!

I was born here and I worked doing stingray trips for the last 5 years. I have seen tourists mistreat the stingrays numerous times. I'm not saying they meant to hurt the animal, I'm just saying they didn't think and having never been in the situation before, made a mistake. For instance grabbing the rays to hard and trying to hold on to them the wrong way, or lifting them out. We don't need these people drinking copiously (because some of them will!) and then trying to interact with the rays.

And I agree that Cayman does need more places where tourists can eat local food. Theres a little place in George Town now, opposite the Waterfront centre, and I think it's a great idea! However the sandbar is certainly not the place do this. People are going to start trying to feed the rays with their food and it's going to be a big mess.

Selling local food to tourist=great idea! Selling local food to tourist at the Sand Bar=Bad idea If Bernie Bush wants to do that...that do it at the docks where the boats land..not in the water...that's all Let's have a compromise!

The idea is tacky, classless and prioritises money over all else.  So I suppose it is in keeping with the larger model for the development of Cayman.