REAL NEWS: Old Road resident and former Calypso Monarch “Queen Ivena” is distraught and very angry over the clearing of acres of land near Carlisle Bay, where an excavator has been at work for the past two weeks.
Not only Ivena, but other community residents are expressing concern about the wanton destruction of the mangrove area that adjoins the sea – and which is a breeding ground for sea life.
They are concerned about the impact this clearing of the mile-long mangrove swamp will have, as a soil-based trail is now blocking the pathway.
Officials from the Department of the Environment (DoE) and the Development Control Authority (DCA) – which are responsible for approving land development – reportedly have said they knew nothing about the clearing and have promised to visit the site to see
what is taking place.
According to another news report, a senior environment officer claimed that the DoE learned of the land-clearing operation via a local newspaper article. Further, the Department said it had not received any formal complaint about the matter.
However, on Friday, September 15, Queen Ivena – otherwise known as Lena Phillip – called into Progressive FM to voice her displeasure about what is taking place at Carlisle Bay.
She says that residents were informed that no Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) study was undertaken before the destructive clearing was undertaken – with mangrove trees being removed and the area covered with stones and other materials.
However, when the developers were confronted, they claimed they had all the relevant documentation, Queen Ivena says.
Now, she adds, in spite of officials from the DCA having visited the site, work has continued at the hillside location.
The Old Road resident complains that a pond in the destruction zone – now filled in with soil – has fed many people through fishing activities.
Accordingly, she notes that the construction of any resort on the hillside will have far-reaching negative implications for the neighbouring villages and residents.
If something is not done urgently, this situation will become an environmental disaster, Queen Ivena warns, since the point at which the sea joins the pond has been blocked with huge boulders.
And, she says, even the livelihood of the village fishermen is being threatened by what appear to be the plans for the area.
Meanwhile, Queen Ivena says, it appears that the Gaston Browne Administration will do anything for money. At the same time that officials are going on the international stage and making pleas in the name of climate change, they are allowing investors to destroy the
local environment, she charges.
She calls on the relevant government agencies to be more proactive, to stop taking directives from politicians, and to do their jobs without fear or favour.
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Well said and highlighted Ivena.
Why is it left to autochthonous Antiguans to show concern about the wanton destruction to our mangroves and land, just to accommodate for more and more corporate greed (again without the checks, balances and due diligence of our government).
Sounds familiar doesn’t it?
Maybe, it is time for fellow Antiguans to setup some sort of watchdog group, so that when we hear of any future developments, we come together as one and observe for ourselves that any further developments is carried out according to the correct building regulations.
The ABLP has allowed time and time again for companies to have free reign to harm our environment.
Again, well said Queen Ivena 👏🏾
I’m so proud that Antigua has so many highly intelligent women that see the bigger picture.
Sadly, a few of the women in high office at present are in place because due to nepotism and who dem married to. Awful!
Ivena is right. Antiguans better stand now or never cause the impact developments such as this will have on our livelihood in the future will be irreversible in many instances. Tourism ventures like these aren’t helping us, but instead killing us.
The hotel industry’s interest in environmental protection usually depends on the nature of the sectors dominant business culture and practices. International chain hotel management are more likely to pay attention to environmental issues. It is usually hard to find environmental protection programs in small and independent hotels.
Still, there is usually a huge gap between their environmental awareness and their daily practices. Most hotel properties are only interested in environmental protection as long as it reduces their operating and activity costs.
The main forces exerting pressure on the hotel sector are DCA and the Department of the Environment. But they are caught between what is right and the need to conserve and protect the environment for future generations versus government needs to provide the flexibility to the various properties so that they can grow and expand, which will redound in greater revenues for government and more employment for locals.
It is a difficult situation and one that requires prudence and common sense and must be approached and handled with much care.
We welcome expansion and we think that expansion can be done in an environmentally safe way that protects the environment whilst providing you with the avenue to expand and grow your hotel plant.
I urge all the hotels, please work with us…not against us.
Audley Phillip you definitely sound like The House Nigger begging master for the crumbs of their table or the intestines, of the pig to make rice-pudding.
LARGE or SMALL, LOCAL or INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPER, the LAWS of the Nation pertains to ALL, yet here you are with a bunch of Ass Kissing excuses trying to defend these law breakers.
GOD DAMN NIGGER! This is 2023 not 1623!
The developers should be asked to show the alleged “relevant documentation” that they possess which gives them the right to destroy the ecosystem.
Wait, you rise again. Did you pay the PM his defamation cost? Or did he pardon you?
Why don’t you respond to the topic at hand @ From The Sideline?
Your ignorance holds no bounds.
Aren’t you interested in what happens to our eco-system and corporate destruction of Antigua & Barbuda?
What an awful individual you are – you definitely deserve to be associated with the ABLP!
@ Brixtonion
Never a more ‘condemnation’ spoken. This guy is so far up the ABLP azzes that he does not care what wrong/evil they do to the environment and Antigua/Barbuda. He is a political psychopath.
@Brixtonian September 17, 2023 At 10:05 pm
Unlike you, I have lots of faith in our Department of Environment and the people that work there to do their job. you know when Lovell couldn’t silence Mrs. Black-Layne he transferred her out of the department and gave her a lousy desk job somewhere else. Not this government. They elevated her and created a status for her of Ambassador. Something in my opinion is still questionable. Where is she Ambassador to or for? but with her at the helm Antigua and Barbuda was able to receive million in funding for several climate change projects.
You did notice that as soon as this was brought to their attention, they paid a site visit and reported it to the DCA, who then gave a stop order. The case will now be handled by the authorities. There is no Minister involved because these people are independent and will not be silenced like under the UPP. However please note that the Cabinet always has the final word.
You are only responding in kind because I pulled you up for going off tangent.
I can read you and tenman like predictable children’s books.
NOW GO BACK INTO YOUR MYOPIC ONE-SIDED ‘ABLP’ BOX AND DO SOMETHING USEFUL FOR THE GOOD OF THE COUNTRY FOR ONCE. PLEASE!
Brixtonian as always, creating the narrative and thinking outside the box 🗃
… and moving around the country like an UNIDENTIFIED superhero – UP, UP AND AWAY … 🦸🏾♂️
@Brixtonian September 18, 2023 At 8:04 am
Brixtonian. As I said. Unlike you I do not comment on topics I know nothing about. It’s called just running your mouth. I wish Ivena had done the same. Remember how they run their mouth about YIDA removing mangroves. And when the DoE went to look at it, there were some red mangroves that they had permission to move. I stick with topics I am qualified to speak on. Finance, Accounting and Economics. I hope you will do the same. Stick with what you know. But then again, that would not leave much for you to talk about.
Sidelines makes a point, a lying tongue is really an abomination. Doe makes clear according to this article they knew nothing of the clearing but watch Ivena jump the gun and suggest that this is GB fault. Nowhere in this article is it even stated an attempt was made to contact the PM . Anyway clearly GB does get under the razor lady thin skin. Its a pity her mind is so ugly
South Africa, Senegal, Botswana and a few other African countries have found themselves in the position that we are rapidly approaching. Their leadership have invited colonizers to own millions of acres of land while their families and cronies benefitted to the detriment of the countries. Those same interlopers are now members of the respective governments. One political party has always been responsible for the thefts of our lands , under three successive leaders and it’s about time we made decisive decisions and stop the mayhem.
The hotel stinking up the village with their poor maintainance and draining issues too.
Somebody need to check that place out!!
What I’m not getting(being facetious), yet, the practice seems to have been normalized, in the Construction Industry.
Aren’t developers required to submit their entire Scope of Work to include ALL SCHEMATICS, impact studies(long & short term)?
Why aren’t Construction Sites, especially, those of this Nature, inspected on a daily basis from the Order to Ptoceed/Notice to Proceed to the final inspection? Inspectors need to stay on the site for the entire day, but at the very least visit the site and make your DAILY REPORTS. If this was being done, the issue of the alleged illegal clearing of the mangroves would not have gotten this far without being noticed, by the relevant authorities.
Ras Smood aka Jumbee Picknee
De ‘ole Dutty Peg 🦶🏿Garrat_Bastard
Vere C. Edwards
Preach @ Ras Smood preach … 👏🏾
You know, everyone knows, before you develop a land you need to clear it in order to have an appreciation as to what the contours in geography of the land are all about. Sometimes even before buying the land you request the land to be cleared. Cleared land gives you a much better appreciation as to what building you can put on it.
So, to suggest that when you are clearing land that each time DCA or an environmental study needs to be done is absurd. People clear land all the time and then the buyer doesn’t like what he sees, and the vegetation grows back again. I myself have sold many pieces of land and had to clear them at the request of the buyer.
@From Thr Sideline…you’re totally incorrect. You DO NOT need to clear no land to know, neither contours, topography, soil content etc.
Surveyors have from sonar to infrared to satellite imaging to address ALL of the prerequisites, require to develop any where.
Engineers have the same tools at their disposal.
The only disturbance(s) which are needed prior to sending ALL of
information, to ENGINEERS and ARCHITECTS are #BORINGS to determine the make up, of the soil’s content upon which the physical structure(s) will be built.
Again, from the underground water table to the types of vegetation does not require the clearing of the land.
You’re talking #fuckery, at best, as you keep supporting PPP – Piss Poor Planning and PPM – Piss Poor Management.
Ras Smood aka Jumbee_Picknee
De ‘ole Dutty Peg🦶🏿Garrat_Bastard
Vere C, Edwards
Preach again @ Ras Smood preach to Sidey ince again 🤜🏽🤛🏽
When you hit him with FACTS, FIGURES and especially REALITY he goes off on a unintelligible rant and ramble, that you have to read what he says 2-3 times … AND YOU ARE STILL NONE THE WISER! MERCY!
@Brixtonian…😄No #Preacher_Man here. I simply #reason, and if and when I’m talking shit, anyone can call me out, and say “Ras Smood, you’re talking fuckery,” then point me to the facts to bolster your claim.
However, #REASONING requires knowledge, wisdom, facts as they pertain to the subject matter.
There a #Thin_Line between arrogance and confidence, and in that #space resides IGONORANCE. As “WE” become wiser, HUMILITY must take the place of ignorance, in this equation.
RASpect…
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