Posted by Bahama Journal on April 30, 2002 at 12:23:05:
Exumians Want Builders To
Stop Sand Extraction
By Yvette Rolle-Major
Exumians are calling on authorities to have a world-class
resort which is under construction return the sand that
was carted away from the Farmers Hill beach.
A number of residents in Exuma have already filed
complaints at the local police station, expressing their
displeasure that the builders of the Emerald Bay Resort
had reportedly been using sand from the beach to mix
concrete.
Local businessman and a resident of Exuma Eugene
Smith told the Bahama Journal that he was very
concerned about the matter and wishes for the company
to put the sand back immediately.
"The sand should be returned," he said, "because at a
certain time of the year, during spring tide, the sea water
rises flowing into the street, causing erosion."
"As an Exumian, I would like to see a number of things
happen as a response to these actions by Emerald Bay.
I would like for the government to stop them from using
the sand that they stock pile and use for mixing
concrete. I would like for the government to have them
transfer the sand back and then have them pay for each
pile they have moved and used," he explained.
According to Mr. Smith, when he first saw the company
removing the sand, he called the George Town Police
Station and reported the situation to the Inspector in
Charge. He said that he was told that they would
investigate the matter.
"I was very disturbed and started to do some more
investigations for myself. I went to the president of the
Farmers Hill Association Mr. Lewis Smith and asked him
about the sand removal," Mr. Smith said. "His reply was
he spoke with an official at Emerald Bay who presented
him a letter from the project manager at Emerald Bay
signed by the former island administrator requesting
permission to clear the drainage and get rid of the extra
sand."
Indicating that even if the resort was allowed to clear
the drainage, Mr. Smith noted that it should have not
been allowed to remove sand from the beach.
Picture shows the Emerald Bay Resort's equipment
removing sand from the Farmers Hill beach in Exuma.
Pointiing out that it was against the law for the luxury
resort to remove sand off the beach, he said it seemed
odd that the company would transport sand removed
from the drainage area to their compound.
"As time went by I have noticed the piles of sand
gradually disappear. About two weeks ago, I saw them
removing more sand from the drain but only this time
they had removed quite a bit, creating a big sink hole on
the beach, which started only ten feet from the newly
constructed road in Farmers Hill," he said.
Latoya Ferguson a resident of Farmers Hill, also
expressed her disapproval with the way she said Emerald
Bay has been destroying the community beach.
"It seems as if the resort is pretending to bring in sand
along with concrete rocks to lead the government on.
This proves that they are not really giving back to the
locals," she said.
A group of concerned residents are now planning to
write a letter to the government to have the situation
resolved.
At the beginning of the year Emerald Bay concluded a
$140 million financing to complete the project.
Emerald Bay Resort awarded Devcon a $23.8 million
contract to perform land preparation services.
The company had said it expected to have the project
completed by the end of the year. Devcon dredges
harbors, builds marine facilities, constructs golf courses
and prepares sites for residential, commercial and
industrial projects.