Cabinet Approves Plan for the Ironwood Forest, Linford Pierson Highway

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.

An overview of the Ironwood Forest, with the Crown Land parcel highlighted in red.

“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.

Elected leaders and civil servants toured the Ironwood Forest this April.

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.”

Fact Check: Why the Ironwood Forest Matters

• At 54 acres, the Ironwood Forest is the largest remaining fragment of George Town's ancient forest, containing a significant diversity of plants, some of which are endangered and found nowhere else on the planet.
• Almost the entire Cayman Islands population of the Old George giant bromeliad (a highly endangered tropical plant), and a significant share of the world's Ghost Orchids, are found within this forest.
• The decision covers the Crown parcel at Block 15B Parcel 392, the essential first step in protecting the forest and the globally significant species it holds.
• Significant educational benefits would also be realised, as this Protected Area would also serve as a “living laboratory” for educational institutions.
• As the road moves into its design phase, Government will explore viewing points and interpretive signage so the public can appreciate the forest from the corridor itself.

Fact Check: The Road Corridor’s 20-Year Timeline

• 2008: a proposed road through the heart of the forest met strong public opposition, and the proposal remained stalled for nearly 20 years.
• In 2026, the NCFC Government agreed to re-route the road along the forest's northern periphery. That rerouted alignment is now the approved Linford Pierson Highway extension, running between Outpost Road and Olympic Way.
• As part of Cabinet’s 15 July 2026 decision, protected area boundaries and management arrangements have been designed to complement, not delay, the road project.
• The National Roads Authority (NRA) has now commenced the statutory survey and investigation process to support the detailed planning and design of the proposed corridor. This work, including topographical, cadastral, environmental, and geotechnical investigations, is being progressed in consultation with the University College of the Cayman Islands and Department of Environment (DoE), and will inform the detailed engineering design of the proposed road alignment.