Above: the Cayman Islands Legislative Assembly

By the Caribbean Journal staff

The Cayman Islands’ proposed National Conservation Bill is heading to the Legislative Assembly.

The bill, which is now available for public review, was approved by the Cabinet for tabling on Tuesday.

“While the bill is not a panacea for all our environmental concerns, it represents an important, essential step in ensuring the long-term conservation of our fragile island ecosystems and native biodiversity,” said Environment Minister Wayne Panton.

The Minister said he was hoping the “long-awaited” piece of legislation could be enacted by the end of 2013.

The bill would give protection to Cayman’s “irreplaceable native species and habitats,” according to Department of Environment Director Gina Ebanks-Petrie.

“As drafted, the bill requires that the environmental consequences of all national plans, policies and projects and all development proposals are taken into account before any decisions or actions are taken or permissions granted,” she said.