Opposition Leader Ralph Gonsalves has issued a blistering critique of the New Democratic Party (NDP) administration, accusing the government of hypocrisy for allowing what local residents describe as an “environmental massacre” at Canash Bay.
Speaking on his weekly radio broadcast, Gonsalves contrasted the government’s pious rhetoric surrounding the controversial sale of Chattam Bay for “conservation” purposes with the severe ecological destruction currently unfolding in broad daylight on mainland St. Vincent’s only marine protected area.
According to Gonsalves, the peaceful sounds of birds and the gentle waves of Canash Bay have been replaced by the roar of bulldozers, cranes, and pile drivers. The site of the active construction is located within the South Coast Marine Conservation Area, a critical ecological zone that stretches 2.2 square kilometers from Indian Bay to Johnson Point, encompassing Young Island and Fort Duvernette.
The Caribbean Natural Resources Institute (CANARI) has designated this site as containing vital nearshore habitats, including coral reefs, seagrass beds, and mangrove ecosystems that support sea turtles and shorebirds. Furthermore, Canash Bay is home to three of the five remaining mangrove forests on St. Vincent: the Blue Lagoon mangrove, the Canash mangrove, and the White Sands mangrove. (The island’s other remaining mangroves are Brighton and the nearly extinct Sinhill mangrove).
Despite the area’s protected status, Gonsalves reported that two major property developers are currently conducting extensive clearing and land reclamation, fundamentally altering the coastal environment.
Gonsalves detailed the specific actions of the two developers:
One developer has reportedly cleared more than 70% of the fragile Blue Lagoon mangrove forest. This has destroyed essential habitats used by local wildlife, including herons, egrets, warblers, sandpipers, bullfinches, and large numbers of crabs.
A second developer is actively reclaiming thousands of square feet of seabed to construct a permanent dock and artificially extend the shoreline directly in front of the Coconut Grove Beach Club.
Gonsalves pointed out that at least one of these development proposals had been explicitly rejected by the Physical Planning Department under his previous administration. However, construction commenced roughly four months ago, shortly after the current administration took office.
“It is not immediately clear what planning, or environmental approvals have been granted for either project, or whether environmental impact assessments were required before these works commenced,” Gonsalves stated.
Gonsalves expressed outrage over the destruction of conservation work completed under his own government. In 2018, the National Parks, Rivers and Beaches Authority planted more than 280 mangrove seedlings at Canash Beach and Great Head Bay under the South Coast Marine and Coastal Rehabilitation Adaptation Project. The project, which saw another round of planting in 2023, was designed to improve ecosystem health and build resilience to climate change.
“Those mangroves which we planted are now dug up and pushed away by bulldozers,” Gonsalves lamented, labeling those responsible “environmental barbarians” and criticizing the government for sitting by and allowing the destruction.
The opposition leader shared direct complaints from local residents, who have contacted him regarding construction noise at all hours and the environmental fallout. Residents have warned that the ongoing dock construction appears to be creating stagnant water in front of White Sand Cottages.
Gonsalves quoted several concerned citizens who wished to remain anonymous, including one who asked, “Has the developer received permission to build this dock? Did he do the proper studies about water movements and did he get permission to fill up the seabed?”. Another resident lamented, “Look at what they have done to the mangroves. I do not know how anyone could give permission for something like that to happen”.
Gonsalves argued that this “marauding and barbarianism” exposes the government’s hypocrisy. While Prime Minister Godwin Friday driving between Town and Ke House in the Brighton and Prospect area can easily look over the bank and see the bulldozers in action, the government remains silent. Meanwhile, the administration continues to use “conservation” as its primary defense for the secret and heavily discounted $54 million EC ($20 million US) sale of Chattam Bay.
“You can’t talk conservation down there and have environmental massacre and marauding taking place right up here at Canash,” Gonsalves declared, challenging the government to explain why it has failed to police mainland St. Vincent’s most fragile ecological treasures.
