Massive excavation in South Eleuthera raises
concern
WINDING BAY, Eleuthera---Members of the
Board of Directors of the Hotel Corporation tour Winding Bay,
Eleuthera, where they raised concerns over the massive excavation of
sand on the beach. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign
Affairs the Hon Brent Symonette (second from left) and board members
examining the area. (BIS Photo/Tim Aylen)
WINDING BAY,
Eleuthera---This pathway to the sea shows the level of excavation on
the beach at Winding Bay, over which Directors of the Board of the
Hotel Corporation voiced concern. Also pictured at the site is
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs the Hon Brent
Symonette. (BIS Photo/Tim Aylen)
September 11, 2007
NASSAU, The Bahamas – Massive sand excavation taking place in
Winding Bay, Eleuthera, has led to environmental concerns in that
island, which is prone to extensive flooding and sea surges during
hurricanes.
The issue was raised by Board of Directors of the Hotel Corporation
and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs the Hon
Brent Symonette during a tour of South Eleuthera on Saturday,
September 8.
Deep and wide tyre track marks were evident of heavy equipment being
used to dig and transport the sand and fill from the beach area. At
one spot the sand dune had been dug out to the shoreline.
“This is not uncommon on Family Islands and on Eleuthera where in a
number of other settlements like James Cistern, contractors have
taken heavy equipment and dug out sand and other landfill material
with no concern for the potential environmental problems,” said
Deputy Prime Minister Symonette, who is also responsible for the
Hotel Corporation.
The Deputy Prime Minister said while he appreciates the need for
sand for construction purposes, there are requirements in place to
engage in such activity. He called on those responsible to seek the
necessary permission to do so.
Mr. Symonette noted that other Eleuthera developers at Windermere,
Powell Pointe and Cotton Bay took “tremendous” time to ensure the
natural environment is preserved.
“This is where we want to go, to make sure that developments are
environmentally sensitive,” he added.
He said the Government aims to stop the assault on the environmental
integrity of the country resulting from excavation of hills and back
filling of wetlands, amongst other harmful practices.
Another goal, he said, is to enact legislation for the regulation
and the provision of guideline for environmental impact assessments
for all developers, and to plant sea oats and other indigenous
plants to protect sand dunes and other fragile coastal zones.
The purpose of the tour, which began in Fresh Creek, Andros, on
Friday, September 7, was to familiarise the newly-appointed Board of
Directors of the Hotel Corporation with Government-owned properties
and Crown lands being sought by potential investors.
“The entire trip was very educational for some board members it was
their first time viewing that aspect of the Family Islands,” Deputy
Prime Minister Symonette said.
“We have a number of perspective developers who have expressed
interest in the Lighthouse Club in Fresh Creek. Substantial work
needs to be done to the Lighthouse property that needs substantial
injection of capital, marketing and airlifts and a whole range of
issues,” he said. “We need to look at the two potential developers
and whether it is financially feasible.”
In Eleuthera, he said, a developer is interested in Half Sound,
Winding Bay and Tarpum Bay, which together incorporate thousands of
acres of land and indigenous plant life.
“So we have to balance whether we feel it should be given to one
person, or more, or whether it shouldn’t be done at all. And there
is this whole question of the environmental impact on the
development,” Deputy Prime Minister Symonette said.
The Board of Directors is schedule to meet Friday, September 14, to
review all proposals and submit its findings to Cabinet for final
approval.
