PM says Eli the “alarmist” opposed to plans for offshore sand mining

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Prime Minister Gaston Browne says Eli Fuller and Martin Dudley will not derail his government’s plans for offshore sand mining.

Browne says he’s received advice from experts that this can be done sustainably.

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16 COMMENTS

  1. Gaston Browne,who were those experts that advised you to do that sand mining. Did you get those experts advice from them Chinese?

  2. this is insanity, to mine sand offshore when our MAIN TOURIST PRODUCT IS THE BEACHES. there is such a thing as the sand cycle, and it is not even entirely understood by science, but by any measure, digging up huge swathes of sand from offshore we KNOW will disrupt this cycle and potentially threaten our beaches and the already MASSIVELY DEPLETED marine ecosystems around our precious island.

    besides the obvious ecological impacts, how will antiguan people benefit from this project? will it simply be yet another case of a foreign capitalist selling our natural resources for huge profit while we get thrown a few peanuts in jobs that will not even last a decade? who is going to do the mining? where will the sand be sold? what are the motivations? these kinds of industries always collapse, history has proven it time and time again.

    come one people, our economy does not HAVE to be at the expense of our ecology, we could be building a circular economy based on regenerative agriculture, sustainable eco-tourism, regional trade and economic democracy, but this ruling class is hell bent on selling off every last natural resource we have until all that is left here is concrete and dust.

    • The techs from the environmental department have been pushing it some years for Barbuda Its head publicly stated this via Observer in an interview with Mathew Ward some years ago. The PM then followed up by offering to provide them funding to make this happen. They are yet to take up the offer:

      “If it’s about mining sand, we all know that your sand mining is unsustainable. Let us have a discussion – the central government, PLH and the Council – as to how we can find alternative revenue for you or how we can maybe position the council to be a part of a sand mining operation to mine sand offshore. You cannot continue to be ripping up Barbuda to sell sand to get quick money,” the Prime Minister stated.

      He continued that the company could provide the Council with funding to purchase equipment for offshore sand mining. see Prime Minister invites Barbuda Council to discuss PLH project 13 July 2020. OMG

        • Not sure, was busy cycling today (tried of 50 miles, got only 40). I could ask him though if you seriously wish for an answer?

  3. A man that is only concerned about his pocket doesn’t care about the professional and local opinion, all he see is dollar signs.

  4. HMMMM 🤔🤔 JUST SAW AN ARTICLE AT GOOGLE UNIVERSITY “CHINA CONSUMES MORE CEMENT IN THE LAST FEW YEARS THAN THE U S. DID IN THE ENTIRE 20 CENTURY”.

    • Of policies that PM Clown supports that are, have or will further wreck this country.

      I’m sure he has his personal reasons ($$$$) though.

  5. The whole concept is a great idea and should be explored. This, of couse, should have nothing to do with the special economic zone. Nothing.

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