‘Save the Mangroves’ – Natural Resources Minister Dr Pickering
Well the Natural Resources and Labour Minister Dr The Honourable Kedrick D. Pickering (R7), who is also the Territory’s Deputy Premier, is appealing to the Virgin Islands (VI) community to give due care and attention when working in and around mangroves during this critical time in their recovery following the passage of hurricanes Irma and Maria.
According to a Government Information Service (GIS) press release today December 8, 2017 “Mangroves are salt tolerant trees that once extensively covered most of the southern coastlines of the VI, but are now very limited in number due to clearing and pollution over the years.”
Today, the Environment Minister, Hon Pickering, told GIS, “It is important that mangroves be given the opportunity to regenerate naturally so that they can continue to carry out their very important functions.”
Dr Pickering, the veteran politician first elected in 1999, further stated, “Due to the forceful winds encountered during the hurricanes, many of the larger trees in our mangrove forests have been knocked down and uprooted, and are also now littered with boats and other debris. The present state of the mangroves begs for our assistance to care for them so that they may continue to take on their role in the ecosystem.”
Double standards on environmental protection?
Many of Dr Pickering's critics have claimed that the environmental laws are only for locals, as foreign investors and those on the cays and some on the sister islands continue to destroy the environment, including mangroves without little or no penalties.
However, as the post hurricane clean up continues, the Deputy Premier asked persons to “Please refrain from dumping, garbage, soil, oil, et cetera in or near mangroves, and when removing boats and other debris avoid damaging trees and seedlings.”
Many have also stated that Government itself is the biggest violator of the VI environmental laws. One recent example they give is that of old cars and other debris being dumped on Paraquita Bay farmlands on Tortola, near to natural ghuts and springs.
The Conservation and Fisheries Department is the Government Agency responsible for the VI’s environmental protection and preservation, along with the National Parks Trust.
.png)
.png)
.png)
Follow Us On
18 Responses to “‘Save the Mangroves’ – Natural Resources Minister Dr Pickering”
Plus yes both VIP and NDP have contributed to the destruction of the environment. In times like these we miss wahshasar
Look at the filling in of baby mangrove in Fat Hogs Bay. South Side of BVI used to be full of pelicans and fish.
Mangroves also help protect the shore from sea serge and storms. Pockwood and duffs bottom are filled in as well.
Mangrove which are part of the fisheries protected area at Frenchmans Cay have been polluted for years by boats and trash. Yet they help protect the sand spit. Government is indeed the worst offender because money talks.
Give the Conservation and Fisheries TEETH to fine violators regardless of who they are-- and don't allow them to be overridden by special interests who ignore the warning signs for personal gains. This goes for West End!!
Look at this web-site: https://speedycustomessaywriting.org/