VG residents protest filling in of pond & clearing of mangroves
“There is a situation in Virgin Gorda where they are trying to fill in and clear out the last pond in the Spanish Town area. Apparently Conservation and Fisheries Department has given permission without the Ministry’s permission to cut out the mangroves and fill in the pond next to Fisher’s Cove. It’s a piece of land adjacent to Fisher’s Cove, between Fisher’s Cove and Rock Café. They are supposed to do that tomorrow morning (February 6, 2016)," a resident of the sister island told our newsroom minutes ago.
According to the resident, attempts were made to do it before. This was a story that this news site had reported on in July 2014. The resident said that a lot of persons were against the destruction of the environment then and still are.
“My concern as a resident of Virgin Gorda and as a BVIslander is that it is the last pond or what is left of the pond in the Valley. There is nothing else closer other than Pond Bay. And even if they are trying to do development around the pond they should try to preserve the pond. They have already filled in more than half of it. We tried to stop it but Conversation and Fisheries allowed it to happen. Now they have given permission to cut out the mangroves and fill in the pond.”
‘Build with the environment in mind’
The concerned resident was not sure what the developers are going to do with the area they are trying to reclaim but said persons are of the strong view that the pond and mangroves should be preserved. “They can build or whatever with the environment in mind.”
The resident claimed that neither the Minister for Natural Resources and Labour Dr The Hon Kedrick D. Pickering nor his Permanent Secretary Mr Ronald F. Smith-Berkeley know about the clearing of the mangroves and filling of the pond.
Efforts to reach both Dr Pickering and Mr Smith-Berkley as well as officials from Conservation and Fisheries Department for a response proved futile.
“A couple of us are planning to go in the morning and stand in front of the backhoe, because even though the land is a private property the Minister neither the Permanent Secretary knows nothing about it. And there have been other issues where we have approached Conservation and Fisheries and they told us we can’t do anything unless we get the Minister or we have to go through the PS to get to the Minister. So why have they not spoken with the Minister or the PS on this issue? Maybe it’s because who is doing the development? Are they that powerful?” the resident asked.
The resident argued that a lot of people have made mistakes in the past as it relates to the destruction of the environment in the name of development because they did not know better.
“But now that we know and the technology is there and the information is there do we destroy the last bit? There are birds that migrate to that pond every year. So it is much more than persons just saying we want to save the last pond. It is a lot more than that.
“The challenge we are also facing is that road when you take away what is left of the natural drainage, the road has already been compromised. When it rains the whole road is flooded and nothing is being done so once they take away the mangroves we are going to have a situation. We don’t know when anything will be done to repair that road. Right now persons are running sewage into the drain right along that whole roadside. It is something that needs to be addressed and while I think nobody is against development, it needs to be done in the right way and with the protection of the environment as a priority,” the resident stated.
Virgin Islands News Online will keep you updated on this story.
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22 Responses to “VG residents protest filling in of pond & clearing of mangroves”
Know that more of us are there with you in spirit!
Instead of stopping them, get a shovel and help fill it in, but don't forget your Mosquito repellent!
We are creating most of the problems by stripping the environment. mangroves and salt ponds are vital for protecting against hurricanes and filtering water to keep the ocean and coasts clean. My question is how come people don't know who is doing the filling? What is going there? who is paying and why doesn't the CFD have more teeth? What affects one affects all. SHAME! Pickering talks about saving the environment and global warming. Here is a case where he could put his money where his mouth is. walk the walk. the BVI is losing its identity and natural balance all for the almighty dollar.
and their Premiere and the same people did not say one word. It s
obviously wasn't a concern then, why is it one now? Is it that it might
cause competition to the greedy money haunted Flax them?
Who get um, tek um who e hut e hut.