Environment minister Mark Scotland announced Thursday that the consultation period for the National Conservation Law will be extended by six weeks to 27 August.

The extended consultation period means the bill, which the minister had said was expected to go before the Legislative Council in September, will be delayed being voted into law by legislators.

The original month-long public consultation was scheduled to end on Friday, 16 July, but Mr. Scotland said several individuals, non-governmental organisations and community groups had indicated that they wanted to make contributions, so he extended the deadline.

A statement from the ministry on when the bill is now likely to go before legislators read: “The bill remains a priority for the ministry, but because the public consultation period has been extended, there will be an unavoidable delay in bringing the bill before the LA as government considers the public’s input.”

The Department of Environment has held seven public meetings and several other meetings and briefings with interested parties, such as developers, architects and the business community, during the most recent consultation period.

Frank Balderamos of the National Trust of the Cayman Islands described the delay in bringing the bill before the Legislative Assembly as “frustrating”.

“They’ve been going back and forth on this conservation law for 10 years and now I guess they need another six weeks. I hope it’s not a delay tactic, but if it is, I don’t think it’ll work. People who have spoken to me are very much behind this, they’re not just ready for this law, they’re impatient for it,” he said.

At a meeting hosted by the Chamber of Commerce last week, construction industry professionals said they had not had enough time to examine the law thoroughly and to come to a consensus on it.

Mr. Scotland said in his statement: “By extending the public consultation period on this bill, I believe that we can develop the right legal framework to achieve these goals, so I encourage everyone to take advantage of this extended opportunity to comment on the bill and get involved in shaping the future of our country.”

This is the second round of public consultations on this draft of the bill. It had been slated to go before the Legislative Assembly last year, but did not get tabled before the May election. An earlier version of the bill, dated 2004, also did not make it as far as the Legislative Assembly.

In 2001, Premier McKeeva Bush, who was the environment minister at the time, signed an environmental charter with the UK that committed to the creation of legislation to ensure the protection and restoration of key habitats, species and landscapes.

Director of the Department of Environment Gina Ebanks-Petrie said: “The DoE will work with the ministry to ensure that it is available to hear concerns and provide further information to all parties requesting it.”

The draft legislation can be viewed on the department’s website at www.doe.ky. Residents can comment on the proposed law on the website. Comments can also be submitted by email to DoE@gov.ky; faxed to 949 4020, or mailed to NCL Comment, c/o Department of Environment, PO Box 486, Grand Cayman, KY1-1006.