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CGB Beach 'should never be closed'- Bishop John I. Cline

- Says Gov't made the wrong move to plaster closure in media
Outspoken Bishop of the New Life Baptist Church in Duffs Bottom, Mr John I. Cline says the government should not have allowed news of the closure of the Cane Garden Bay beach to be plastered in news headlines, since according to him, it sends the wrong message regarding the territory's ability to preserve its natural environment. Photo: Facebook
The Cane Garden Bay Beach was closed due to high levels of bacteria found in the water following the passage of Tropical Storm Karen on September 24, 2019. Photo: VINO/File
The Cane Garden Bay Beach was closed due to high levels of bacteria found in the water following the passage of Tropical Storm Karen on September 24, 2019. Photo: VINO/File
Deputy Premier and Minister for Natural Resources and Labour Honourable Vincent O. Wheatley (R9), left, On November 30, 2019, had appealed to everyone to put their health first by staying away from the closed Cane Garden Bay Beach until an 'all-clear' is issued. Photo: Team of Reporters
Deputy Premier and Minister for Natural Resources and Labour Honourable Vincent O. Wheatley (R9), left, On November 30, 2019, had appealed to everyone to put their health first by staying away from the closed Cane Garden Bay Beach until an 'all-clear' is issued. Photo: Team of Reporters
CANE GARDEN BAY, Tortola, VI - The Cane Garden Bay Beach has been closed due to the presence of 'dangerous bacteria' in the water; however, outspoken Bishop of the New Life Baptist Church in Duffs Bottom, Tortola, Mr John I. Cline says the government should not have allowed news of the closure of the popular beach to be plastered in news headlines, since according to him, it sends the wrong message regarding the territory's ability to preserve its natural environment.

Media Censorship? 

Speaking about his newfound love for the environment and conservation, Bishop Cline said "I'm in Ecuador and just decided to log on to news and flashing across the headlines, Cane Garden Bay Beach, the premier beach of the British Virgin Islands, has been closed," Mr Cline noted on the October 1, 2019, edition of the My BVI radio show with host Angelle A. Cameron. 

"I mean, who does that? Who tells the world that?... because we have not managed what we should, now we have to close our beaches. I think that was not done right, I think the government needs to find a different way of educating or alerting our people instead of plastering it all over social media and the world," he said.

On September 30, 2019, Deputy Premier and Minister for Natural Resources, Labour and Immigration, Honourable Vincent O. Wheatley (R9) had to appeal to residents and visitors to put their health first by staying away from the closed Cane Garden Bay Beach until an 'all-clear' is issued.

This was due to a high level of dangerous bacteria found in the water after samples were taken following the passage of Tropical Storm Karen on September 24, 2019.

Beach closure a symptom of something bigger? 

"The world is watching," Mr Cline underscored in suggesting that the territory needs an environmental, marine and preservation policy to guide people and protect the territory's natural resources.

Turning his attention to a popular eco-island destination in Ecuador, Bishop Cline said, "The truth of the matter is, their waters are not more beautiful than ours, their waters are a little murkier... because of the population of marine life," he said in noting that much wildlife has virtually disappeared from CCB.

"All of these things we had [Birds & Marine life]... they [Equador] do everything to protect those marine lives," Mr Cline pointed out while vowing to spark conversations around wildlife preservation. 

"Cane Garden Bay Beach should never be closed", he asserted while underscoring that the closure of the beach is a symptom of something bigger. Mr Cline reiterated he will be advocating for better care of the environment and pressuring policymakers to seriously look into the cause.

17 Responses to “CGB Beach 'should never be closed'- Bishop John I. Cline”

  • Really?! (03/10/2019, 15:32) Like (18) Dislike (0) Reply
    Bishop a whole child was incinerated under your watch and you mad that they took precautionary measures and close the beach FOR SAFETY!
  • chad (03/10/2019, 15:32) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    thought he was busy with power plus lol
  • hmmmmmm (03/10/2019, 15:41) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    And the whistle blow now who would have think that is bad news ever since I know myself they say stay away from CGB beach water should have been BBC or CNN
  • CGB resident (03/10/2019, 15:53) Like (13) Dislike (0) Reply
    I agree because it’s not the beach itself, it’s the restaurant next to the pond that’s dumping its waste into the pond, the beach only closes when the pond water leaks into the beach because the pond itself is contaminated
  • Aw please (03/10/2019, 15:59) Like (16) Dislike (0) Reply
    The public has a right to know.
  • Mental Scar (03/10/2019, 16:09) Like (2) Dislike (11) Reply
    Advertise that A has STD. No matter how much medication A took.. No matter how healthy A becomes after that. People will stay away from A. That mental scar... The authorities apparently didn't think before they act. We have some the best n cleaness beaches. What popular beach doesn't have a little contam...
  • dude (03/10/2019, 16:21) Like (15) Dislike (0) Reply
    That's what's wrong with them. They like too much cover up. So they lie and hide obvious simple truths and become liars with no credibility.
  • Jim Jones (03/10/2019, 16:42) Like (18) Dislike (1) Reply
    So if the water have deadly bacteria how else will people know? We really have to stop listening to religious leaders.
  • welll well (03/10/2019, 17:05) Like (19) Dislike (0) Reply
    I don’t know how much of you reads the USVI news but every week end they tells you which beaches are safe to swim and which ones are not ,listen to a so call man of the cloth cover it up it’s ok once they make money and innocent people gets sick ,the day will soon come when them so have to answer to the creator,but the good thing is that we have enough smart people here to know better than to study those so call men of cloth
  • oh lordy (03/10/2019, 17:25) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    Typical business man..Keep it under wraps
  • Vultures (03/10/2019, 17:58) Like (1) Dislike (2) Reply
    LMFAO like VINO don't miss anything. I was listening but honestly, I don't think he knows why the beach was closed.
  • SHAME (03/10/2019, 19:20) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    It is over 2 years sine Irma, up to now CGB don't have city water, no working sewage system. Isn't this a shame? In the area around Myetts or Pussers at Myetts the area is smelly with a green unsecure sewage tank in the back of the building owned by the government. Isn't this a shame? We are in the 21st century, its time to improve our environment. if we cannot do it properly don't be afraid to seek outside professional help.
    I speak because I went to the restaurant at myetts, after going to the bathroom to wash my hands I almost fainted with the smell of the water coming from the tap> OMG what happen to the BVI.
  • No wonder (03/10/2019, 21:51) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    Pastors like him always covering up drama in the church.
  • BA (04/10/2019, 02:40) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    What a way you know so much. You are the head of that drama group. Gosh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  • solution (04/10/2019, 07:39) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply
    What made the beach safe again in 2 days?
    • NICK (04/10/2019, 12:16) Like (1) Dislike (2) Reply
      The cruise ship coming next week.then they'll close the beach again.
  • E. Leonard (06/10/2019, 20:57) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    Tourism is 1/2 of the BVI’s economic twin pillars; financial services, the other 1/2. And a pristine environment—-water —-is vital for tourism growth and development. Both land and water- based tourism depends heavily on the sea. As such, every effort should be exerted to preserve, protect, maintain.........etc the quality of the sea. As such, the focus should be on quality, non-polluted discharge from sewage plants, runoff from the land, thrash dumping.......etc. Environmental management programmes should be in place to keep CGB and other beaches open for public use. However, if the beaches are contaminated, in the interest of public health and safety, they should be closed until they are safe and healthy for swimming, diving, snorkeling and other uses. Health and safety must be the first priority.


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