As always, not necessarily endorsed by BVIHCG
Letter to the Editor, March 7th, 2008. BVI Standpoint on Beef Island and Golf Courses. PDF file
LETTER TO THE EDITOR- JUNE 19TH "More Protected Land before More Development"-
By private citizen Susan O Smith
The chief minister is a masterful politician. He knows what to say and how to say it with conviction. It is true that his administration has accomplished some good things for the island, and areas of Roadtown look better- despite the large cement high-rises appearing over the last four years. The economy is good so far and the army of taxi drivers should be happy with the increase in cruiseships and visitors. But, with the two hats recently worn by the Chief Minister, I wonder if he truly believes what he is promoting. If that answer is yes, then his position as acting Minister of Natural Resources and Labor would have ushered in more protection for the territory’s pristine acres. If the answer is no, then promoting environmental protection while signing away key pieces of land to exclusive resort developments is hypocritical, and is serving the agenda of his party’s wealthy and successful businessmen.
Our elected official has long presented himself as a champion of the people and the environment. He commented in the Island Sun, June 2005, "the government will not measure its success based on the number of buildings or number of bills passed, or the amount of dollars invested. For us the true measure of success… is the well-being and happiness of the people of the BVI". Other statements further gave us hope as to thoughtful leadership. "Every dollar spent preserving the quality of our land and sea is not a cost, it is an investment that pays off with real returns over time". (BVI Business Magazine, Spring 2007). As recently as "Environmental Month" this June, he recognized that "few nations better understand the value of a pristine environment then the BVI. Our natural blessings are the foundation of our prosperity, the keystone of our identity..." Conservation and Fisheries was congratulated twice for leading the fight for environmental preservation. Ironically, the most powerful entity CFD is fighting to do its job is its own boss, the honorable Chief Minister.
The Caribbean tourism industry relies heavily on the beauty and health of its ecology. Jean-Michel Cousteau, a National Parks Trustee, reminds us that in small ocean nations "Land and Sea are inextricably linked". The BVI Press office continues to promote BVI’s commitment to environmental preservation evoking Cousteau’s Sustainable Reefs Programme, showing the value of coral reefs, home to 160 species of fish. The Press speaks of the island’s greatest asset- the lack of hi-rise hotels, casinos, or crowds. Tortola is called mystical and lush, and "no building is taller than the highest palm tree". Very Romantic. If only that were true.
In March, 2007, 23 scientists gathered in Dominica to study Caribbean Marine Life and the findings are cause for concern. Mangroves and sea grasses, which protect shorelines, shelter fish and filter pollution, are being cut down to make way for coastal housing, tourism and aquaculture development. So it is most shocking to hear of the extensive plans for multiple exclusive coastal resorts "on a scale never seen before" to quote the "co-owner" of the newly proposed 50-acre Raffles Chain Resort at Lambert Beach. Even he acknowledges that there are not enough bulldozers, trucks, excavators and operators, cranes and barges for what is planned territory-wide.
Most BVIslanders recognize modern amenities are crucial to the expansion of the economy and have patiently succumbed to the financial sector’s need for space. Hundreds of companies are registered in the BVI and many employees are "living large" with new money and "mega yacht toys". Resort development, as explained to me by a TCPD official, is not so much about tourism, but about keeping the financial companies and employees happy at a level of luxury to which they have become accustomed. The Chief Minister and ministers are determined to compete for elite resort dollars, playing catch up with other territories, which became commercial and over-built yrs ago. One only has to look at St. Martin and St. Thomas for casinos and density.
One of the points fueling this rush is that a resort hasn’t been built in over 20 years (even though tourism is up dramatically). Additions to the Park System are equally sorely lacking. Of the 20 existing parks, five are on Tortola totaling 144 acres. Of those, three are very small, totaling only 4.6 acres- Botanical Gardens, Mt. Healthy Park and (the man-made) Queen Elizabeth II Park. Sage Mountain is prominent, while Shark Bay next to Brewers is the only piece on the north side with conservation status. Of 68 marine and terrestrial areas currently proposed for protection in the BVI territory, 8 are on Tortola and of those, only 2 are land- the 28 acres of Bar Bay, East End, and the 109.2 acres of Belmont, next to Smugglers, one of two remaining public family beaches- Long Bay, East End being the other.
Despite adamant, loud and well-researched public protest and letters, the Government has ignored the will of the people concerning both Beef Island and Smugglers, signing off on large-scale resorts totaling 675 acres. This does not include Lambert, Diamond Cay, Brewers, Nail Bay, Oil Nut Bay, Trunk Bay, Scrub, Mosquito or Norman Islands, possibly others. Investment Money is indeed being flaunted while beach access is being questioned. Most distressing in the Smugglers’ Agreement fine print was that the adjoining Belmont parcel of 109.2 acres was also given to the developer- which involves a salt pond, mangroves, palm grove and archeological dig with a 5000 year old ball court from the Carib and Arawak Indians. This site belongs to ALL Caribbean Heritage, not just Tortola- and definitely not to an insensitive self-serving developer. If the Government is determined to build on every available coastal acre, I would hope it would take steps to preserve at least 2 beaches for the public, Smugglers and Long Bay, East End while honoring the previous administrations’ intentions to save Belmont as a park.
The Smugglers/Belmont area fits perfectly the classification of "Protected Landscape or Seascape" where the "interaction of people and nature over time has produced a distinctive character with significant aesthetic, ecological or cultural heritage value and often with high biological diversity, where management aims to maintain and support this harmonious interaction of people and nature.." (2007-2017 Planning Act). The process, with its carefully controlled public meetings, exemplifies a growing undemocratic practice and blatant disregard for the people’s wishes by this administration. I can only believe that the Government and businessmen are embarrassed by the gentle Tortola way of life. Development is mushrooming, lacking visual and physical integration of coastal areas along with its environmental and social impact - visually inappropriate styles and isolated sprawling development, erosion, pollution, destruction of vegetation, sewage treatment and trash needs, traffic, noise, crowding, crime, temporary worker housing, outside management and exclusivity. Barbados is currently protesting a high-end chain resort importing Chinese workers. Here, Beef Island is looking at the same work force while Smugglers is slated to use a Santo Domingo crew to be housed in Belmont. The resort developments (that we know about) are eating up prime and pristine land and valuable beaches long used by locals as part of their heritage and tradition. More power needs to be given the National Park Trust but, alas, it, too, is at the mercy of the Chief Minister.
How many other development agreements were signed with partial public disclosure? This may have been the case with Virgin Gorda’s valuable Oil Nut Bay. It is too much of a coincidence that the new Michigan owners of Biras Creek now own the 400-acre Oil Nut Bay peninsula and is clearing vegetation and cutting roads without a current Environmental Impact Assessment.
Were there public have hearings about this current project or was an announcement made after the fact?
Empowering the National Parks Trust should be as crucial a step as using the Conservation and Fisheries towards co-management and balanced development. The Department of Agriculture is also involved but has no staff or budget for enforcement functions. While these vital departments are being financially squeezed, the first of these "5-star" resorts at Scrub Island was issued a compliance letter for unauthorized development, and lack of environmental management. The manager is "not qualified to carry out all the environmental aspects of the project", yet this developer is also overseeing Beef Island. This does not bode well for pristine and vital Hans Creek. The owner of Norman Island is purportedly using Money Bay, a Fisheries Protected Area, as a staging area for his development. Yost Van Dyke’s Diamond Cay has 1.3 protected acres, yet there is an encroaching resort planned. The proposed (private) dock at dazzling White Bay may be indicative of plans to develop the area in the not too distant future jeopardizing this fabulous long beach- a destination for many a visitor.
Nothing is as simple as it seems. Let there be a concerted effort to procure protection for the other proposed environmentally significant areas before they are lost to development, because as we have seen, "proposed protection status" seems to mean very little. Save Great Thatch, Green Cay, Sandy Cay before they are all sold off to private owners. Get Anegada’s Western Ponds protected before they are quietly scooped with the blessing of the Chief Minister. Development is inevitable. The on-going issue is HOW to create a balanced co-management between all Departments while maintaining individual island identity and ecotourism throughout the territory.
According to one candidate, the government has purchased 200 acres of expatriate land and is in the process of buying 115 acres more as Crown Land for public use. We can only guess what this means because the Crown Land at Belmont was offered for development. As one prominent BVIslander observed, this administration has marginalized the requisite input from the people, and has been unresponsive to their views and wishes. It has also ignored a number of established guide-lines, conventions, procedures, institutions, including conventions of the Constitution and practices of Council. Regardless of party, let’s hope the next "premier" -in furtherance of the ideal of good governance- has the foresight to implement further protection and planning of the island’s natural resources- not just rock formations but accessible land where BVIslanders and visitors can truly appreciate "Nature’s Little Secrets" for generations. The natural beauty, clear seas, access to beaches and green open space are the very product tourists come to see.
LETTER TO THE BEACON- Raffles/Lambert Bay July 6th, 07.
I am both interested and concerned by the announcement of the Raffles Resort because of how assured the owner is without any input from the people. The site is co-owned by at-large candidate and 4th district representative, Mark Vanderpool and will include 100 rooms and "250 Raffles residences of luxury villas, casitas, condominiums and lots available for ownership", 5000 sq ft conference center, a 15,000 sq ft spa, four restaurants, 3 swimming pools and shops on 50 acres. The resort has been included on industry websites for some time now, confidently suggesting the deal has already been approved prior to a site plan, or presentation at a public meeting or to Town and Country Department. This declaration may seem premature, given the facts, if it weren’t for other precedents where public feedback was ignored anyway.
The opponents of Beef Island, Scrub and especially Smugglers Cove-after witnessing the Beef Island struggle- waged a great, fact-filled protest at public meeting complete with follow-up protest letters to TCPD only to have the Chief Minister sign off on the project, which includes private development of Queen’s land- people’s land previously slated for addition to the national park system. Beef Island protesters staged a rally to educate BVIslanders on the value of pristine land and protected marine areas effecting fisherman’s livelihoods in years to come. Yet that development has moved forward.
So, my question is, if aspects of the Raffles project by Mr. Vanderpool- a representative elected by the people- were strongly opposed by abutters and East Enders, what would he do? What do ministers and representatives do when they are involved in benefiting from developments the people oppose? What does the Investment Club do when they privately buy land together while still in a position to affect the passage and outcome related to that transaction? Isn’t that considered conflict of interest? Officials also throw out dazzling numbers like $50 million, $70 million like candy. Here, Mr. Vanderpool says this project will reach “the 200 million mark”. Impressive but what does that mean? Where does the money go, how much stays in the BVI, and how is it documented? And how many laws are slightly bent for a positive result in any of these resort developments?
Is there a current Environmental Impact Study available to the public? According to the press release, Mr. Vanderpool comments they don’t have any environmental issues, then he reveals that Lambert Bay is home to turtle nesting, voiding his previous statement. These kind of casual environmental acknowledgements, also seen in arguments concerning Beef Island, Smugglers and violations at Scrub, reveal a lack of priority from elected officials- first- to represent the will of the people- and to protect the fragile environment as touted in government documents. Social Impact is also a major factor exemplified by the increase in traffic through town and Ridge Road and Lambert’s only dangerous access intersection effecting quality of life for its neighbors.
Equally important is the issue of beach access. Lambert is a contained beach, approachable by "trespassing" across the lawn only to be allowed privileges up to the high water mark. Smugglers proposed development has a "public" portion of beach on the rocky side. This implies that the rest of the beach is "private" unless you walk ankle-deep along the shore and forget the towels. Beach access should be to the vegetation line, not the high water line. Beaches belong to the BVIslanders.
Finally, there is great value and purpose in a Public Meeting as a tool for officials to disseminate information as well as to listen to feedback not previously considered. Public hearings let the people become part of the process, not the subjects of the owners. By compromising with concerns, the product can only be better and lessen the feeling of disenfranchisement by the people who feel invisible. For all we know, Raffles may not be a good fit. Website photos suggest their Singapore and other sites are all tall multi-story glamorous buildings. How tall are these resort units allowed to be and how much of the character of the island does one want to change? Keep in mind even the Capitol Building rotunda in Washington DC is one story. There are great examples of appropriate developments and resorts such as the West Indian Style Soper’s Hole shops, and Caneel Bay, St. John, where buildings blend into the vegetation. Then there is the jarring and massive Sapphire Beach Hotel and condominiums on St. Thomas which eat up the hillside (as well as our own Long Bay). Is there a national development plan as mandated by Part III of the Physical Planning Act? Development is not the issue, BAD development is.
I urge all BVIslanders to attend ALL public meetings for their own education. Meetings are not just about the one project, they concern every issue. It is cumulative and speaks to quality of life. Sign up BEFORE the presentation to comment, whether you have something to say in the moment or not. You may not have the chance afterwards. It is your responsibility to find your voice and hold elected representatives accountable for their actions. No one is above the law. And then maybe, representatives like Mark Vanderpool and others in his position who are faced with conflicts of interest and hard decisions will put their respect for the people first before the quick huge profit, changing the island’s character forever.
Marilee Meyer
Letter to the Editor BVI Beacon, May 8th, 2007
Passed on to us by a private citizen, but still unpublished!
A Shadow of things to Come?
I read with some interest the article on page 5 of the May 3rd Beacon titled "Scrub Island issued compliance letter". According to the article, the developers are being held responsible for carrying out "unauthorized development." The unauthorized development included creating a barge landing ramp, constructing a breakwater, dredging and a "lack of environmental management".
The first three are disturbing enough but the fourth point, that of lack of environmental management, is the one that really got my attention.. In my 25 years as a professional SCUBA tour guide here in the BVI I have witnessed a massive urchin die off, the demise of almost all of our large grouper and the recent coral bleaching event. We should be trying to help the environment rather than hurting it.
Now, it seems as if the government of the BVI is allowing Beef Island to be developed into a Mega Yacht Marina/ Hotel/ Golf course. Guess who will be managing the environemtal aspects of this project? The same company that has been doing unauthorized development at Scrub Island - ATM Applied Technology & Management! Here the development has been going on for months and only now is Town and Country Planning saying “the current environmental management is not qualified to carry out the environmental aspects of the project”! Remember now that this IS THE SAME COMPANY doing the environmental management for the proposed development on Beef Island. Only this time the affected area will be Hans Creek. Hans Creek is so vital to the ecology of the territory that it has been declared a Fisheries Protected Area. The government proposes to let ATM manage this vital area? The penalty for any breach of environmental management would be a maximum of $50,000. Hans Creek can never be replaced! Not for $50 million dollars. Once this area is destroyed it will be gone forever and with it the most important fishery in the BVI.
What will we tell our grandchildren when they ask what we were doing when Hans Creek was destroyed? Will we say we thought it was not going to happen?
All we have to do is look at what is going on at Scrub. The time has come for all concerned citizens of the territory to rise up and add their voices to prevent this travesty. Write to your representatives and request a court injunction to stop the Beef Island project before it is too late.
Randy Kiel
Letter to the Editor BVI Beacon, April 5th, 2007
I was extremely disappointed to be unable to attend the meeting at the West End Community Centre and record my dismay, though not total suprise, of the planned and approved development of Smugglers Cove Beach.
I grew up in Cappoons Bay with my late grandmother, Jane Ann Augusta Cameron Hodge and remember well the many walks and then picnics at Summglers Cove. When we would finally reach the beach, the joy of running and telling the water not to move as you jump in head first would be worth the trip.
Years leter, while living in Virginia, I had a vivid dream about Smugglers Cove. I dreamt that there were brightly colored roses growing in the sea just off the beach. The floweres were red, blue, green, yellow and white. They stood unobstructed and untouched although the white capped waves were gently rolling in on a bright summer day.
Needless to say, I made a beeline for SMugglers Cove when I returned to the Virgin Islands to try and determine what flowers could possibly be growing in the ocean. To my amazement, I just happened to visit the beach at low tide and the coral reefs were protruding quite nicely and quite definitively, thus explaining my dream and what exactly it was that I must have distinctively remembered from my exiciting childhood. The different color "flowers" were all there. They were the brightly colored corals on the reefs left exposed by the low tide.
I will not lament the profound sadness that I feel for the inevitable destruction of the "flowers" at Smugglers Cove. I will say, however, that I hope BVILanders and Belongers are given the opportunitiy to won at least two of those villas at Smugglers Cove at a reduced costl and that the financing provided includes the down payment.
Why? In exchange for the flowers of course!
Rosaline Augusta Hodge, Carty St Thomas, VI
Letter to the editor, BVI Beacon, March 8th, 2007
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