INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL CHARITY BACKS GUIANA ISLAND PROTEST
Over 800 signatures in first 24 hours
of petition against environmental
law-breaking in Antigua
law-breaking in Antigua
An international environmental organisation has given its
backing to a growing protest in Antigua against a massive development on its
environmentally protected North shore. The announcement came on the same day as
the Antigua Conversation Society launched a petition which gained more than 800
signatures in the first 24 hours.
backing to a growing protest in Antigua against a massive development on its
environmentally protected North shore. The announcement came on the same day as
the Antigua Conversation Society launched a petition which gained more than 800
signatures in the first 24 hours.
The Mangrove Action Project, which is a global network
focusing on viable, long term solutions to halt and prevent mangrove
destruction, says that it is deeply concerned by the plans published by Chinese
development corporation YIDA. YIDA has purchased the 1600 acres of land,
including mangrove-rich Guiana Island, with the intention of developing the
US$1billion Singulari resort. The resort will feature hundreds of villas,
several marinas, luxury hotels, a casino, school and two golf courses.
focusing on viable, long term solutions to halt and prevent mangrove
destruction, says that it is deeply concerned by the plans published by Chinese
development corporation YIDA. YIDA has purchased the 1600 acres of land,
including mangrove-rich Guiana Island, with the intention of developing the
US$1billion Singulari resort. The resort will feature hundreds of villas,
several marinas, luxury hotels, a casino, school and two golf courses.
The area is in the 3,100 hectare North East Marine
Management Area (NEMMA). In order to be carried out legally the project needs
an Environmental Impact Assessment being submitted under the Physical Planning
Act 2003. There is also a requirement for permission to be sought from the
Fisheries Division under the Fisheries Act 2006 for any pruning or removal of
mangroves, which must improve the environment.
Management Area (NEMMA). In order to be carried out legally the project needs
an Environmental Impact Assessment being submitted under the Physical Planning
Act 2003. There is also a requirement for permission to be sought from the
Fisheries Division under the Fisheries Act 2006 for any pruning or removal of
mangroves, which must improve the environment.
Mangrove Action Project Chairman of the Board Roger de
Freitas said: “The next generation of Antiguans will be very grateful that
these laws were enforced. Mangroves are the fish nurseries for the Caribbean.
It is difficult, although not impossible, to restore them. In Mexico the
Chinese have just been ordered to restore a huge area of mangroves they
destroyed in order to build an industrial centre near Cancun. It would be a
great shame if Antigua became yet another case in a sequence of Caribbean
mangrove destruction.”
Freitas said: “The next generation of Antiguans will be very grateful that
these laws were enforced. Mangroves are the fish nurseries for the Caribbean.
It is difficult, although not impossible, to restore them. In Mexico the
Chinese have just been ordered to restore a huge area of mangroves they
destroyed in order to build an industrial centre near Cancun. It would be a
great shame if Antigua became yet another case in a sequence of Caribbean
mangrove destruction.”
Species which make their homes in the NEMMA include many of
the 182 species of Antiguan and Barbudan birds such as the endangered West
Indian Whistling Duck, the Lesser Antillean Flycatcher and Bullfinch, egrets,
and Carib doves. There are also Hawksbill turtles which nest on the beaches,
snapper and many other fish, lobsters, coral, sponges, conch, and seagrass as
well as the ecologically vital mangroves. In 2005, the NEMMA was declared a
marine protected area under the Fisheries (Marine Reserve Area) Notice No 36.
the 182 species of Antiguan and Barbudan birds such as the endangered West
Indian Whistling Duck, the Lesser Antillean Flycatcher and Bullfinch, egrets,
and Carib doves. There are also Hawksbill turtles which nest on the beaches,
snapper and many other fish, lobsters, coral, sponges, conch, and seagrass as
well as the ecologically vital mangroves. In 2005, the NEMMA was declared a
marine protected area under the Fisheries (Marine Reserve Area) Notice No 36.
Alarm
about the development is spreading in Antigua, with the Antigua Conservation
Society launching an online petition yesterday (12th May) asking Prime Minister
Gaston Browne not to let Chinese developers break the laws which conserve
Antigua’s marine protected areas. The petition gathered a massive total of more
than 800 signatures in the first 24 hours.
about the development is spreading in Antigua, with the Antigua Conservation
Society launching an online petition yesterday (12th May) asking Prime Minister
Gaston Browne not to let Chinese developers break the laws which conserve
Antigua’s marine protected areas. The petition gathered a massive total of more
than 800 signatures in the first 24 hours.
The group says it
believes while the majority of Antiguans support economic growth, jobs and development
in the country, they don’t want it at the expense of the island’s precious environment.
Director of Adventure Antigua Eco Tours and founder of the Antigua Conservation
Society, Eli Fuller, said: “The Siboney were the first humans settling
here in Antigua and Barbuda.
believes while the majority of Antiguans support economic growth, jobs and development
in the country, they don’t want it at the expense of the island’s precious environment.
Director of Adventure Antigua Eco Tours and founder of the Antigua Conservation
Society, Eli Fuller, said: “The Siboney were the first humans settling
here in Antigua and Barbuda.
They lived in the
shadows of our coastal vegetation some 4000 years ago and were sustained by the
ecosystems that were rooted there among the mangroves. Tourism has been in
these islands only since the 1950s, and already we have removed much of the
same vegetation that sustained life here until its arrival. Only time will tell
how long tourism will continue to be an integral part of our lives here in
Antigua and Barbuda. It’s a very fickle industry to rely upon with so many
threats from so many angles that could make tourism a distant memory of the
past…… just like the Siboney.
shadows of our coastal vegetation some 4000 years ago and were sustained by the
ecosystems that were rooted there among the mangroves. Tourism has been in
these islands only since the 1950s, and already we have removed much of the
same vegetation that sustained life here until its arrival. Only time will tell
how long tourism will continue to be an integral part of our lives here in
Antigua and Barbuda. It’s a very fickle industry to rely upon with so many
threats from so many angles that could make tourism a distant memory of the
past…… just like the Siboney.
What will happen when tourism is no longer able to provide
food for our nation? It is then that we will need to rely more heavily than
ever before on the natural resources and of course this will be impossible if
they continue to destroy them. It’s time for the words sustainable development
to become more than words.” Amongst those protesting the development is
Antiguan-born Ziffy Tyrrell who said: “People are really alarmed at these plans
and the bullying tone of some of the speeches made in regard to them, calling
those of us concerned about the environment a ‘minority’.
food for our nation? It is then that we will need to rely more heavily than
ever before on the natural resources and of course this will be impossible if
they continue to destroy them. It’s time for the words sustainable development
to become more than words.” Amongst those protesting the development is
Antiguan-born Ziffy Tyrrell who said: “People are really alarmed at these plans
and the bullying tone of some of the speeches made in regard to them, calling
those of us concerned about the environment a ‘minority’.
There has been no consultation with local people and
fishermen in Parham, and no wider information about the nature of the plans
given to Antiguans. Long term, we are worried about the impact on our fragile
island, particularly the fishing culture which is already struggling due to the
effects of climate change and the decline of our reefs.” Antiguan environmental
campaigner Martin Dudley said: “Successive Antiguan Governments have sadly
failed to stop our island heading for environmental catastrophe. Our landfill
site is overflowing, there is no recycling system in place in Antigua, our
water and electricity supplies are unreliable and already at full stretch, and
vast swathes of mangroves have already been decimated by development. “
fishermen in Parham, and no wider information about the nature of the plans
given to Antiguans. Long term, we are worried about the impact on our fragile
island, particularly the fishing culture which is already struggling due to the
effects of climate change and the decline of our reefs.” Antiguan environmental
campaigner Martin Dudley said: “Successive Antiguan Governments have sadly
failed to stop our island heading for environmental catastrophe. Our landfill
site is overflowing, there is no recycling system in place in Antigua, our
water and electricity supplies are unreliable and already at full stretch, and
vast swathes of mangroves have already been decimated by development. “
This latest project could result in the collapse of the
north sound ecosystem which is now critical to Antigua’s reefs and fisheries
due to the historical loss of other mangroves. We’ve had enough of our concerns
being ignored, and want to work with the Government and YIDA to ensure any
future development is within the law and protects our ecosystem. The new Zoning
plan designates this area for “environmental protection”, this is not new
news!”
north sound ecosystem which is now critical to Antigua’s reefs and fisheries
due to the historical loss of other mangroves. We’ve had enough of our concerns
being ignored, and want to work with the Government and YIDA to ensure any
future development is within the law and protects our ecosystem. The new Zoning
plan designates this area for “environmental protection”, this is not new
news!”
Contact details:
Antigua Conservation Society –
Eli Fuller 1 268 725 7263
eliantigua@gmail.com
Ziffy Tyrrell (+1268) 721-3051
zifforahtyrrell@gmail.com
Martin Dudley 1 268 722 3564
zerowasteantigua@gmail.com
Eli Fuller 1 268 725 7263
eliantigua@gmail.com
Ziffy Tyrrell (+1268) 721-3051
zifforahtyrrell@gmail.com
Martin Dudley 1 268 722 3564
zerowasteantigua@gmail.com