A report was presented to the Antigua and Barbuda Government yesterday regarding harvesting open water sand deposits. CLICK HERE TO JOIN OUR WHATSAPP GROUP.
The report, presented by Minister of Social Transformation and Blue Economy Dean Jonas, said that billions of tons of sand is available in Antigua and Barbuda’s exclusive economic zone and could be harvested safely over a 20-year period.
A note from the cabinet the Fisheries Department, Department of Environment and Development Control Authority will all play a role in ensuring that sand harvesting can be done safely and securely without affecting fish stocks or the environment.
When questioned today at the post-cabinet media briefing on whether the government would be able to afford the equipment and expertise needed to extract sand safely, Minister of Information Melford Nicholas said protecting the environment will be key when mining begins.
“Where there is insufficient capacity, we will certainly have to outsource that. But clearly, there seems to be significant deposits of sand in that area. The work is going to be done between the Coast Guard, between the Department of Environment, Public Works and all the agencies of government to ensure that we can achieve the commercial object of harvesting the sand while maintaining the pristine ecological environment,” he stated.
Antigua and Barbuda’s Exclusive Economic Zone is 110,089 square kilometres and is estimated to have several billion dollars worth of resources including marine life.
The government is working with the Commonwealth and the University of the West Indies to ensure it can maximise the potential of the blue economy through the establishment of a Centre of Excellence in Oceanography and the Blue Economy Five Islands Campus in Antigua and Barbuda.
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We already know who the principal players in this scheme are. The main contracting firm will be transferring some of its equipment from nearby projects, to harvest sand, this time, instead of water.
Sea sand does not have high compressive strength, high tensile strength etc so it cannot be used in construction activities. In addition to this, the salt in sea sand tends to absorb moisture from atmosphere, bringing dampness.
SAND MINING,WHERE DID I HEAR OF THAT BEFORE NOW. It was the Labor Party insiders mining of sand from Barbuda. They got very rich from that sand operation while the Barbudans got the crumbs from the table. Where are they thinking of mining the sand now? The GBLP Politicians have more “self indulged” money making schemes than Corporate America. Would those sand mining equipment be owned by the Government or Politicians. Here we go again with another money making Bobol scheme among Politicians. Welcome to Antigua, POLITICIANS BOBOL HAVEN.
Ok! WOW!
Worth billions of dollars…
I say mine the sand, under ONE condition: the profits benifit the ALL people and citizens of the country directly…otherwise leave the sand alone.
Take the Norwegian oil story as example… Today Norway tops all the lists of best places to live, for at least the past 15 years… Because their oil money i ploughed back into its citizens… At least that’s the narrative….
The State of Alaska gives back $1,600 yearly to every resident of that State.The monies are from Oil revenue in Alaska.
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