INSIDE GRENADA JANUARY 11, 2008 by Sandra Ferguson Hon. Gregory Bowen Minister of Agriculture, Lands, Forestry, Fisheries, Public Utilities and Energy Ministry of Agriculture, Lands, Forestry, Fisheries, Public Utilities and Energy Ministerial Complex St. George’s Hon. Minister, Who Is in Charge? Season’s Greetings Honorable Minister! Before I proceed to the subject of my letter, permit me to express my appreciation and admiration of the diligence of your constituency staff who ensured that I received a Christmas card from my Parliamentary Representative for South-east St. George’s, yourself, and who also delivered a Christmas card from the Government of Grenada. I must also congratulate the government’s photographer. I was not aware that, collectively, you all are so photogenic!! Might I also belatedly add my appreciation of your 2006-2007 calendar. which served me well during the last two years. Now to the subject of my letter. I feel compelled to seek clarification from you - as Deputy Prime Minister and a senior member of the Government of Grenada - as to whether our political representatives and ministers of government whom we voted into office to manage the affairs of this country and to PROTECT our BEST interests have DELEGATED their authority and responsibility to assorted private investors/real estate speculators. I feel compelled to seek clarification on the matter of WHO IS IN CHARGE in light of recent pronouncements and developments. 1. Zublin Melville Street Development I was rather astonished to learn via GBN newscasts that at the commissioning of the Dr. Jan Bosch building at which you were present, Mr. Dick Van Dyke, Chief Executive Officer of Zublin, informed the nation of plans for: • A Casino – casino gambling was a necessary part of new generation tourism as he informed us and you • Reclamation of land up to Cherry Hill area Hon. Minister, these are BIG DECISIONS affecting the FUTURE of we the people. We expect, at very least, our political leaders to be the ones informing us of these developments. It is ALARMING when REAL ESTATE SPECULATORS take matters into their own hands as if they “running things”. While they may in fact be RUNNING THINGS, at least some COURTESY could be shown to we the people by both our leaders and these speculators. Permit me to the following queries and clarifications, Hon .Minister: • WHEN were these decisions taken? • On WHAT BASIS have these decisions been arrived at? • Is there a FEASIBILITY STUDY? • Has there been an INDEPENDENT ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT by a REPUTABLE AND CREDIBLE TEAM? • Are there plans for PUBLIC DIALOGUE/CONSULTATION ON these developments? • Are there plans for public consultation and dialogue with the people who will be directly affected by this planned reclamation? Permit me to observe that Mr. Van Dyke is a Dutch national and his country is for the most part reclaimed land. But HE KNOWS that these decisions were not made overnight and in some cases there have been discussions and debates on the question of reclamation for a century. • How is the proposed reclamation to be FINANCED? • Can you advise on the PERFORMANCE of the CURRENT DEVELOPMENT? • How much of the PUBLIC DEBT of US$29 million has already been repaid by the Grenada Ports Authority? Permit me to observe, Sir,, that as far as I can recall, the Zublin Melville Street development was marketed as development of the tourism product – cruise port and I particularly remember DUTY FREE SHOPPING COMPLEX to encourage more shopping in Grenada, based on a presentation to the Grenada Sustainable Development Council in October 2002 by Zublin’s representative in Grenada. What we have noted is that for the most part the complex is providing commercial office space - Cable and Wireless, GRENLEC, Republic Bank, a supermarket etc. We the people have incurred PUBLIC DEBT to pay Zublin RECLAIM LAND which OUR GOVERNMENT then turns around and GIVES Zublin to SPECULATE. It STINKS and is even more objectionable when these pronouncements and arrangements seem to take we the people for granted and for IDIOTS. It does beg the question as to whether Zublin will be a significant financier of the NNP election campaign - never mind the fact that the Zublin’s local representative is flirting with a certain other political party 2. Port Louis Dredging: I wish to draw to your attention, Sir, in your capacity as Minister responsible for Lands and for Fisheries certain developments taking place in Port Louis. We the people DO NOT know what is taking place. We have noted that DREDGING has been taking place in the vicinity of that area of rocks where the statue, Christ of the Deep, was located. Indeed we are left to speculate whether or not a beach is being created. There have been CONCERNS raised by fishermen that this dredging is resulting in the destruction of the SPAWNING GROUND of many fish species as well as lobsters and its impact on the REEF in the vicinity. I therefore enquire as to whether your Department of Fisheries was privy to any Environmental Impact Assessment and what were its findings and recommendations in respect of the dredging of that area. As Minister responsible for Fisheries, you would be aware that fishermen have been complaining about the scarcity of fish and the lack of fish bait which I understand is now imported from Barbados. It is my understanding that 75 percent of Grenada’s fish spawning/breeding grounds are in the south- eastern area impacted by the so-called high end tourism development taking places in these areas – Hog Island, Mt. Hartman, Calivigny Island, Bacolet, Point Marquis, Egmont etc. The breeding grounds of our fish stocks are being rapidly destroyed, affecting the LIVELIHOODS of our fisher folk and the FOOD SECURITY of our country. IS THIS REALITY OF ANY CONCERN TO YOU AS MINISTER RESPONSIBLE FOR FISHERIES? 3. Flooding: As Minster also responsible for Lands., I also take this opportunity to draw to your attention the unprecedented level of flooding that various parts of the country is experiencing – Balthazaar River, River Road and the Grand Anse area. Permit me to comment Sir that none of this is surprising and I wonder whether or not your TECHNICAL OFFICERS have so advised you. We have witnessed the ill-advised and unprecedented destruction of forested areas, some of them located in watershed areas as housing and business pursue a wonderful mountain view in the Balthazar, Grand Anse and Mt. Parnassus areas. Recently, we have begun to mine gravel in a new area of quarry which drains into that river which passes through the River Road and Queen’s Park area. These are among the reasons, Sir, why there is urgent need for a LANDS POLICY and why ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENTS are recommended to identify negative impacts and recommend mitigating actions when any kind of physical development is being undertaken. You would note Sir that it is ALWAYS the poor and VULNERABLE who are the WORST affected. 4. Climate Change: I suggest, Hon. Minister, that you and your colleague Ministers acquaint yourselves with Grenada’s Climate Change Report and Strategy. Hon. Modeste-Curwen and the Hon. Boatswain ought to be familiar with these documents which should enlighten our decision makers and we the people about the impact of sea-level rise and actions that Grenada should be taking in order to adapt and mitigate negative impacts. You would note that level of coastal development (?) that we are undertaking in the name of tourism development IS NOT RECOMMENDED and can only be considered RECKLESS and IRRESPONSIBLE. Of major concern is the INDISCRIMINATE DESTRUCTION of our MANGROVES. If as a country, we refuse to learn the lessons of Hurricane Ivan, of the storm surges of Lennie and of flooding and landslides which are fast becoming a norm in our country, then as my mother use to exhort when was growing up – IF WE CYAN HEAR, WE GO FEEL!! A lesson applicable to both individuals and to countries!! In 2008, we the people again hope that good sense and enlightened leadership will prevail. Sincerely yours, Sandra C.A. Ferguson