Dear Source:
From Fortuna Bay to Coki Point our north side coastline is Under Siege by developers who have access to some of our government officials with personal gains as their modus operandi! With all of the planned development proposed for this region the residents of St. Thomas must resist these developments that are in stark contrast to the mission statement of our CZM board. What continues to perplex the residents of our territory is the high rolling/credit loaded, cashless worms that continue to have access to our precious resources i.e. Stanford Holding Company. Some of our government officials from the sixties to the present time continue to roll out the proverbial red carpet for these strangers, city slicker, self-serving vagabonds. Yes, I am pissed!
Our CZM board was established to carefully balance our ecology with responsible coastline developments. CZM like every other government agency has at its foundation a mission statement. This statement gives its board members a snap shot of its primary reason for functioning. CZM mission statement reads:
"The USVI Coastal Zone Management Program was established to Manage, Enhance, Protect and Preserve our coastal resources, while reducing conflict between competing land and water uses. It represents a comprehensive approach to minimizing the impact of activities on our coastal resources. Our program is strongly committed to the overall management of the coastlines to ensure environmental and economical sustainability for future generations."
Three tenets of the mission statement include words that need delineating. Enhance, to make greater as in beauty or effectiveness; to provide with improved, advanced or sophisticated features. Protect, to keep from being damaged, attacked, stolen or injured Preserve, maintaining safely from injury, harm, peril, to keep in perfect or unaltered condition, maintain unchanged, to keep or maintain intact.
The following are some of the major element necessary to build an 87 boat slip marina; 470 concrete piles, 40 mooring piles, 32,000 square ft of side walk, bulk head, 37,000 square cubit feet dredge from the bottom of the sea, 10,000 cubic yard from land removal comprising a grand total of 47,000 cubic yard of dredge.
What part of the mission statement applies to this development? What aspect of the development will Enhance, Protect, Management and Preserve our fragile coastline? The proposed development contradicts the course that this board's mission statement seeks to promote.
How can this marina, which will have a fueling station, wastewater treatment site, sewage system, and small maintenance location draw a parallel to the mission statement? If approved, this would be the 13th marina on St. Thomas that is only 13 miles long, not the reported 16 miles. Do we need one marina per mile? If CZM must approve a marina there is a vacant marina on Water Island, which they can obtain for the developer.
In addition, there are unsold condos and studios on St. Thomas, just ask Sharon of Calypso Realty. If the developer must sell condos, restaurants and shops, he should become certified in the real estate business and join in the selling spree that is taking place all over the U.S. and Caribbean, because as soon as he joins the rest of the world, he will realize along with CZM that properties are not being sold anywhere!
The land that is in question is land that was leased in 1964 approximately 44 years ago with 56 years left on it. At that time it might have been a good deal to help spurn economic growth in our territory; however, its primary goal has not been met. Our economy while not perfect is far better than it was 46 years ago so it is the residents' chance to speak out against this development and support DPNR'S assessment of the area it reads: The V.I. Department of Planning and Natural Resources stated in 1993 to Leave Mandahl Bay in its natural state. V.I. Division of Fish and Wildlife service recommends that CZM denies the land and water use permit for any development.
March 5, 2009, the day of the hearing will come and go. The CZM board will have up to 30 days to reach a decision. During this respite please keep up our intense involvement. Keep your petitions in circulation, stay visible in the community, call your elected officials and demand that they act on your behalf and most all, let us believe.
Clarence Payne
St. Thomas
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