Salt Island: The Forgotten & Neglected Island- Part 3 of 3
![Salt Island is a small, approximately 0.3 square mile island in the [British] Virgin Islands. Photo: Google Earth](https://www.virginislandsnewsonline.com/cache/images/800x_s_Salt_Island_03.PNG)
In Parts 1 and 2, I waxed/rant about the hardy and industrious Salt Island people, the place, the proud, rich history, and heritage; basic, simple, and idyllic lifestyle; of my ancestral homeland's forgotten and neglected situation. In Part 3, I will offer some suggestions on the way forward.
Though the core of the series of commentaries was the forgotten and neglected status of Salt Island, some green shoots are indicating a Salt Island rebirth, a renaissance. On January 14, 2022, the Hon Vincent O. Wheatley (D-9), Minister of Natural Resources, Labour, and Immigration, issued a press release announcing the approval and establishing of a long-awaited Salt Island Advisory Committee (SILAC).
The Salt Island land distribution is a significant special project/initiative. Its success will be a function of SILAC and the Government working closely, collectively, cooperatively, and collaboratively to attain a positive outcome. Expressly, the Government must authorise and appropriate funding and other resources to assist SILAC in meeting its goals and objectives.
As such, incident to the announcement and in this commentary, I will offer some cursory suggestions on a) Salt Island Council, b) Master Plans, c) Cooperatives, d) Historical Landmarks, e) Coastal/Marine Protection Area(s), f) Salt Breaking Revival, g) Tax Increment Financing (TIF), h) Breakwaters, i) Land Management and Planning, j) Working Capital/Seed Money, among other suggestions.
Salt Island Council
It is unclear if SILAC is just an ad hoc committee or whether it will double and continue in the day-to-day management of Salt Island internal affairs. Nonetheless, the House of Assembly (HOA) may want to consider passing a Salt Island Council Act. The Council can be modeled after the Barbuda (sister island of Antigua) Local Government Council, comprising 5-7 members and elected to serve 3-4-year terms.
Its responsibilities can include assisting with a) land management and planning, b) coastal/marine protection, c) fishing, d) social welfare and disaster planning, preparing and managing, d) works and general-purpose, e) finance/revenue, e) transportation, f) health, g) education, h) amenities, i) agriculture, etc. Further, the 'Settlement' area should be a communal area administered by the Council. The Council too can revive, manage and promote the once traditional "Salt Breaking" event/bacchanal.
Plan of Action and Milestone (POA&M) Report
The SILAC should conduct town hall meetings and workshops, solicit individual and group inputs, and organize briefings and tours of the island for the Salt Island diaspora/stakeholders. Consult with third parties, conduct further research as needed, and prepare a POA&M Report for the Ministry of Natural Resources, Labour, and Immigration. Additionally, SILAC should make a presentation to the HOA.
Boundary/Property and Subdivision Survey Plan
A critical and crucial action in the land distribution planning, programming, budgeting, etc., process is surveying. Consequently, SILAC must launch/propose a comprehensive property and a subdivision (platting) survey project. Government should authorize and appropriate adequate funding for the survey project. Suggest using LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) technology to conduct the survey. LIDAR is quick, relatively accurate, and flexible (the system can be mounted on many platforms, viz, tripods, planes, helicopters, drones). Identify any land that Government requires for its use during the process.
Master Planning
Salt Island is small uninhabited, and undeveloped, lacking basic infrastructure and utilities, i.e., electricity, water, wastewater, gas, drainage, port(s), roads, ferry service, and telecommunications. Consequently, its repopulation and development require developing, funding, managing, and executing many master plans: environmental, infrastructure, utilities, economic development, engineering/architectural/construction, transportation, feasibility study(s), budget priorities, cultural assets management, facility, and site. Again, government funding is critical in this effort.
Cultural Assets
The two salt ponds, man-head (Lion's head), and burial sites should be protected, added to the Virgin Islands (VI) (British) Historic Register, and managed by the Council.
Coastal/Marine Protection
Like the rest of the VI, Salt Island is highly vulnerable to climate change, i.e., sea-level rise, coastal erosion, and flooding. Further, Salt Island Bay, the main harbour, is unprotected. Consequently, the Government should install breakwaters to calm/break/de-energise the waves to prevent/minimize shore erosion and provide safe berthing. Additionally, evaluate the 'Sound' area to ascertain if it should be designated a marine protected area. Moreover, a study should be conducted for the longer term to determine if a seawall would benefit Salt Island Bay.
Cooperatives
There will be scores, if not hundreds, of applications for a plot of land on Salt Island. However, Salt Island is a small, approximately 0.3 square mile island. Consequently, as noted in Part 1, some individuals/families may not be successful in acquiring a plot. Thus, given the high demand, the SILAC will have a difficult challenge apportioning the land; however, the challenge is surmountable though some applicants may not be satisfied.
Nevertheless, it (SILAC) must devise a balanced, sensible, smart, fair, and reasonable proposed land distribution plan to the maximum extent possible and practice. Fairmindedness and willingness to compromise must be a core component of the land distribution process. As in other managerial or supervisory decision-making processes, the SILAC will not keep 100% of applicants/customers happy; that is not realistic.
Moreover, even though every man jack, as the saying goes, may not be able to get a land plot, other plans must be devised that can provide the most benefit to the most people. To attain or approach this goal, I suggest forming several cooperatives. For the most part, the cooperatives must be home-based, out of Salt Island, providing investment opportunities, use, quiet and enjoyment, etc., primarily for Salt Island descendants.
The cooperatives can/may include a) marina(s), b) fishing/fishing fleets, c) ferry operations, d) retail operations, e) boating operations (glass boat bottom tours, diving, fishing trips), f) dining establishments, g) hospitality (hotels, villas, multi-family, Airbnb, cabins), h) small farming, i) handicraft, j) salt harvesting, etc. These potential possibilities will require feasibility studies.
Tax Increment Financing
Funding will be needed to roll out the land distribution project, i.e., infrastructure, utilities, construction, etc. In addition to regular maintenance and operations dollars authorised and appropriated for Salt Island, any tax revenue increase incident to the island development should be diverted to repay any borrowing costs and for continued growth.
Finally, Salt Island is poised and approaching the dawn of a new day, a new era, a rebirth, and a renaissance. However, it will require the cooperation, collaboration, and cohesion of Salt Island descendants/diaspora to make it happen.
Edgar Leonard is a native Virgin Islander of Salt Island subtract, an amateur freelance writer, and a Florida A&M University graduate.
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11 Responses to “Salt Island: The Forgotten & Neglected Island- Part 3 of 3”
This will be a land grab/land rush. People who in the past didn’t want to associated with having connection to the Cay or even been on the Cay will now rush to find a family link so they can get in line. That has been happening for decades trust me.
History would and should be mercilessly unkind to you, and your action would be a disservice to the next generations of Salt Islanders. Mr. Leonard, in Part 1 noted that supposedly because of Salt Islanders care and compassion shown for the dead that washed ashore from the demise of RMS Rhone Queen Victoria decreed that Salt Islanders and descendants enjoy Salt Island for perpetuity. Indeed, Salt Island should stay in Salt Islanders hand for perpetuity.
Family, value and retain the treasure that our ancestors earned and left for you. Let’s buck the trend of locals not seeing the value of these Virgin Islands while others can clearly see the value and leap at the opportunity like white on rice. Land is a precious commodity and a non- renewable resource. Do not be tempted by a few Benjamins.Fam, enjoy the quiet and enjoyment of Salt Island. Unity is strength so use it. Mr. Leonard, Cuz(?), I enjoyed the read.
Agree with Stealth that E. Leonard proposals for Salt Island in this commentary are moonshots and out the box thinking and vision. Will they get any traction and attraction from government? Moreover, looking outward with a wider lens, the BVI needs a moonshot approach and attitude. Barbados PM Mia Mottley has a moonshot attitude; she just led the Barbados Labour Party to a 30-0 shellacking of the opposition, giving her mandate to launch those moonshots.