Little Cayman Landowners Challenge UNESCO Bid Over Fears of Tighter Development Rules

Little Cayman hits snag in the bid to be designated as World Heritage Site with landowners fearing possible developmental restrictions (Credit: Cayman Islands Department of Tourism)

A UNESCO World Heritage designation is usually seen as a mark of prestige, bringing international recognition and tourism. Yet in the case of Little Cayman, the smallest island in the Cayman Islands, some land owners are objecting to its UNESCO bid due to the restrictions that come with it.

'Little Cayman is a very special place,' land owner Dan Scott told a local publication. 'We need certainty and a broader consultation with the community about what the bid means now—it is for the whole island and not just the marine parks.' There lies the objection: the coverage of the bid.