The Tribune

By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

AN ENVIRONMENTAL activist branded the Christie administration’s plans for the Sandy Bottom Project, which will dredge the Royal Bahamas Defence Force’s harbour to accommodate large vessels, as “disrespectful and absolutely disgusting.”

Sonya Alvino, who lives four houses away from the RBDF base at Coral Harbour, yesterday called on the government to halt the project until residents in the area have been extensively informed of the full extent of the work.

She criticised the government for reportedly holding only one “last minute” meeting on October 17. At that time, she said, officials revealed that dredging was to begin today and in the absence of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).

However, when asked about this, State Minister for National Security Keith Bell said the dredging will not begin today.

Ms Alvino said a government official insisted during that meeting that no EIA was needed because the base is a developed area. She added that in the same meeting residents were told that they were to expect 24-hour noise seven days a week, including holidays.

A company based in the Netherlands is expected to complete the work over the next year, she said residents were told. Ms Alvino’s concerns were outlined in a letter and sent to the government. 

“I am shocked and dismayed at the way in which this has been handled,” Ms Alvino said. “I call on the government to put a complete halt to any works until a full analysis is completed, and circulated to residents, as is required by law.

“The government is already in breach of the Planning and Subdivision Act which states that a public consultation meeting should be held in the area where development is going to take place to take into consideration the concerns of residents – no such meeting was held in Coral Harbour prior to October 17. . .”

“Even after the meeting I still have a dozen questions about what is going to take place as only vague diagrams were displayed showing no dimensions of works to be conducted. Yet I was told to expect noise levels similar to downtown for 24 hours per day, and during public holidays.”

The Tribune put Ms Alvino’s concerns to the junior minister.

Mr Bell said no dredging was going to begin today and insisted that the government would conduct the needed assessments before the works commenced.  

However, dredging equipment has left Denmark and is on its way to the Bahamas, Mr Bell said.

“Let me say without fear of contradiction that no dredging is going to commence (on Tuesday),” he said.

“The Coral Harbour base is going to be dredged. It has to be dredged. Some years ago we purchased some boats that are in excess of 200 feet that cannot fit in the Coral Harbour base and because we are acquiring other vessels the base has to be dredged.

“We will not start any dredging unless and until we consult, collaborate, sit in public forums, and in meetings with members of the Coral Harbour community and the general public.

“Certainly the government of the Bahamas will do and act in the interest of the Bahamian people and of the residents of Coral Harbour.”

Responding to concerns about work beginning without a proper EIA, Mr Bell said the government would never disturb the environment without doing some form of impact assessment.

“As a matter of fact, the law calls for an (EIA),” he said. “It’s in the law. What we are doing is in the national interest of the country. We are seeking to establish a base. We are seeking to strike a balance between ensuring that we protect the environment to protect our people (and) protect our assets.”

In March, the government tabled a resolution to borrow $232m to purchase nine new vessels for the RBDF.

The loan with Deutsche Bank was to facilitate $149m to build each of the ships and an additional $75m to cover civil works for a total of $224m. The remaining $8m was to accommodate any changes that may arise during the scope of the project.

The funds were also to cover marine and shoreside port infrastructural work at the Coral Harbour Base, Gun Point, Ragged Island, and Mathew Town, Inagua.