ERODING CONFIDENCE: People walk along Cabbage Beach. Environment Minister Earl Deveaux argues that beach erosion has occurred at several north facing beaches on New Providence, Paradise Island and Rose Island which have taken a pounding from strong wave action in extreme weather conditions.

Published On:Friday, March 05, 2010

By MEGAN REYNOLDS

Tribune Staff Reporter

mreynolds@tribunemedia.net

PHOTOGRAPHS of beach erosion on Paradise Island and Rose Island have been tabled in Parliament by Environment Minister Earl Deveaux amidst ongoing complaints over the state of Saunders Beach.

PLP Senator Jerome Fitzgerald called for Minister Deveaux to resign over the Saunders Beach erosion he attributes to the FNM government's dredging of Nassau harbour and extension work at Arawak Cay over the last six months.

But Mr Deveaux argues that beach erosion has occurred at several north facing beaches on New Providence, Paradise Island and Rose Island which have taken a pounding from strong wave action in extreme weather conditions.

On Wednesday he tabled in Parliament 14 photographs of battered beaches on Paradise Island and Rose Island, north east of New Providence.

Mr Deveaux maintains that high winds brought on by a series of cold fronts in recent months propelled the waves that pounded these beaches.

"I categorically deny that erosion at Saunders Beach has anything to do with the dredging of the harbour or extension of Arawak Cay," said Mr Deveaux.

"To suggest that these occurrences are caused by anything other than the extreme weather conditions is irresponsible.

"The only beaches not experiencing it are on the lee side."

Concerned conservationist Clint Kemp said beach erosion is widespread despite efforts to reverse it in some areas, however he believes it may be attributed to sand mining off the northeastern end of Rose Island, and north of Salt Cay, known as Blue Lagoon Island.

"The sand travels down the coast," he said. "And we have been mining the major sand production area we have for years and years, so it only makes sense that obviously if we start taking the sand away, beaches on the northern side of the shore will erode."

Mr Kemp would like to see environmental research to determine the affect sand mining has on the beaches that draw millions of tourists to the Bahamas and thereby sustain our number one industry.

But tonnes of sand are required every year for construction projects, and Mr Kemp said building a golf course alone requires around 3,000 truck-loads of sand.

The Albany development on the southwestern coast of New Providence will require regular sand imports to maintain the western end of Adelaide beach after developers cut through the coastline to build a marina, he said.

"It's all speculative at this point but it's common sense," Mr Kemp said. "If you take the sand and it gets depleted, you won't have enough for the beaches."

Atlantis Resort bosses did not return calls for comment on the state of Cabbage Beach before The Tribune went to press last night, but Mr Deveaux said Kerzner International has not voiced any concerns to the government.

The minister said his department hopes to mitigate beach erosion in the long term by removing shallow-rooted invasive casuarina trees and Hawaiian scaveolla from the shoreline, and replacing them with local species such as sea grapes and sea oats which naturally protect the shoreline.