Leader of the Opposition Joseph Harmon and the three parties holding a list joinder seat in Parliament have criticised the destruction of the mangrove forest at Malgre Tout/Versailles on the West Bank of Demerara by a shore base investor.
On behalf of APNU+AFC, Harmon called for the immediate “stoppage” of the construction of the shoresbase and wharf by TriStar incorporated until there has been meaningful and widespread consultations with the people of the communities and also until a credible environmental impact assessment is done and made public.
According to a statement on Monday from Harmon, the action jeopardises thousands of people of not only Malgre Tout/Versailles but also in other villages along the West Bank of Demerara such as Pouderoyen, Goed Fortuin, Phoenix Park, Plantain Walk and Vreed-en-Hoop.
“The destruction of the mangroves will now make families and their properties and businesses vulnerable to extreme flooding from high tides and spring tides. We have seen what has been happening in other parts of the country, particularly at Little Diamond on the other side of the Demerara River with constant flooding and millions of dollars in losses and damage,” the politician added.
He said “it is clear that the EPA, the Sea Defence Board, the Maritime Administration and other agencies have either had no role or were coerced into either allowing this tragedy to happen or turning a blind eye to it”.
Timothy Jonas, Chairman of A New and United Guyana (ANUG) – one of the three parties in the list joinder – yesterday said the current actions of the PPP/C are no different from the pre-2015 party as wrongdoings are being condoned and covered up.
Jonas said it is important that government establishes a level playing field with laws applied impartially to build confidence in the system.
He pointed out that government should not be put in a position where it says environmental damage is necessary for development when it comes to someone they favour and flip on that when a person they don’t favour applies for a project.
Emphasising that the laws must be obeyed at all times, he said that persons who disregard the laws should face the penalties provided for.
“When the People’s Progressive Party came back into office they promised fairness, transparency and a level playing field. They needed time to get their groove in office. In that time, the actions demonstrated are not any different from before 2015,” he stressed.
It is his view that if it is necessary for the laws to change to ensure the mangroves are fully protected, government should return to parliament with an amendment for the forestry act. He added that this change will contribute positively to not only to the safeguarding of the protection of the plants but also build confidence in the system ensuring a level playing field.
Jonas believes that if there are more independent Local Authority areas that are answerable to the people, many developments posing a threat to the communities and protected eco-systems will not be allowed.
He stressed that with the centralised approach of government having a hand in the operations of the Neighbourhood Democratic Councils, there will never be comprehensive and independent decision-making to benefit the communities.
The removal of mangroves from the Versailles/Malgre Tout sea defence by TriStar Incorporated, the developers of a shorebase facility, has attracted heavy criticism from environmental activists, civil society, and residents of the community. Many have expressed concern over the environmental damage that has been left behind. Despite the clearing of mangroves being regarded and advertised along the coast as an illegal activity, permission was granted to the company to go ahead with the development.
Chairman of the River and Sea Defence Board, Brigadier (retd) Gary Beaton had told Stabroek News that the developers have cleared more than the permitted amount of mangroves for development and a meeting would be convened on the matter.
A map outlining the project area and seen by this newspaper illustrates a vast difference in what was applied for and what was cleared for the development and construction of the shore base facility.
Minister of Public Works Juan Edghill at a recent press conference said measures are being put in place to protect residents against flooding and emphasised that “with development comes changes.”
Leader of the Liberty and Justice Party (LJP) Lenox Shuman said “What was wrong under one [administration] remains wrong in another… two wrongs don’t make a right.”
“How do we continue to destroy something that you say is protected and think that it is ok? It is an oxymoron if we do not respect the laws how we expect the foreigners that come here to respect the laws,” Shuman questioned as he said that the silence from government and environmentalists in condemning the destruction of the mangroves is deafening.
The party leader pointed out that it is time for the conversation to start on what is regarded as an environmental crime.
“We have to sit down and decide what is termed environmental crime I hope to sit and have this discussion… How do we measure or quantify what should be protected and what should in national interest? If we are looking at development and saying development comes at a cost give back the Indigenous people their lands at Shell Beach,” Shuman posited.
He noted that government has re-energised and invigorated the Low Carbon Development Strategy campaign but they are exhibiting double standards on the protection of mangroves.
Shuman nonetheless said adequate provisions should be in place to support the sea defence and must be one of the first undertakings by any developer before moving into the construction of the actual project. The LJP is also a member of the list joinder.
Meanwhile, executive member of The New Movement (TNM), Asha Kissoon, yesterday told this newspaper that her party is discomfited by the fact that government has failed to address the situation fully.
“We have seen the impacts of global warming and we have environmentalists standing up but we are still allowing developers to degrade what we have built. We agree there must be progress but we need sustainable development, you go straight to mangroves. that should not have happen, it is unacceptable,” Kissoon declared.
She said further that her party does not support the announcement made by Edghill stating that more mangroves will be cleared for future development.
The party executive said that with their working relationship with the government, they will be seeking to meet and register their position on the protection of mangroves. TNM is also a member of the list joinder.
Giving a background to the approval process for the project at a press conference on Monday last, Edghill said that the Sea and River Defence Board – comprising every major permitting agency in Guyana, including the Central Housing & Planning Authority (CH&PA), the Maritime Administration (MARAD), the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI), the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) – offered its no objection after considering TriStar’s application
“Mr (Kris) Persaud (of TriShore) subsequently, after that no objection, applied and got access to additional portions of land by way of number one, a lease and secondly, a licence. A plot that was leased and a plot that was licensed,” he further noted, adding that Persaud subsequently notified the Sea and River Defence Board about the acquisition of the additional properties and sought the way forward as it relates to how to incorporate this in his overall development project.
In the interim, Edghill said, Persaud provided documentation, drawings, engineering designs and all the relevant paperwork on how the development will take place and what measures will be in place for flood prevention.
“The PPP/C in its approach towards the development of the country has said repeatedly: we will not be obstructionists; we will be facilitating and we have facilitated and will continue to facilitate developmental projects once it comes in a framework where it is properly regulated, sustainable, where there is no danger to life and livelihood, and where we can see the creation of jobs and this project fits within that framework,” Edghill stated.
In response to the flooding concerns, Edghill told the media that sheet piles will be installed to protect the property and all others surrounding it from flooding. However, he could not provide a specific time period in which this is expected to be completed.
“The removal of mangroves here don’t put the West Demerara or the local authority area at risk for flooding because there is adequate protection,” Edghill said.
