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Charlotte Amalie
Friday, March 29, 2024
HomeNewsArchivesObituary and Eulogy for Thatch Cay

Obituary and Eulogy for Thatch Cay

Dear Source:
Thatch Cay (millions of years old) died on March 27th 2009 at the Senate's Environmental Planning Committee meeting, when Senator Alvin Williams, Senator Patrick Sprauve, Senator Michael Thurland, Senator Carlton Dowe and Senator Sammuel Sanes all voted for the death sentence for this tiny serene speck of pristine land. Senator Shawn-Michael Malone chose not to commit himself. These very Senators are the guardians of our Natural Heritage. One wonders by what criteria they were chosen?
The lone Voice of Reason was Senator Adlah Donastorg with his passionate speech and his "no" vote.
Thatch Cay was a very caring little island. She took good care of her shrubs, trees and other vegetation, even though she never had much topsoil to give them. Throughout the bush Thatch Cay cared for the insects and other small creatures living on her surface. Thatch Cay always provided a safe haven for the seabirds to build their nests and raise their young; the trees provided perches from which to fish for food. With her untouched environment, Thatch Cay held on to whatever soil and dust hid between her rocks so it could not be washed or blown into the sea, thus protecting the life under water as well. All the coral, sponges, fishes, turtles and other creatures survived and thrived under her tender loving care.
Thatch Cay's death sentence consists of a terrible cancer starting to grow, destroying her very fabric of life. 101 villas, many more buildings, tons of concrete for road and huge docks will squeeze the lifeblood out of Thatch Cay and her present inhabitants. The docks will very likely alter the flow of the ocean currents flowing past her and possibly destroy Cokie Beach, like Mandahl Beach. She will have to endure backhoes and bulldozers carving her up and changing her entire landscape, until no stone will be where it once was. This is the same fate as Little St. James had to endure!
Thatch Cay is survived by her sisters: Great St. James, Grass Cay, Mingo Cay, Congo Cay, Durloe Cays, Stevens Cay, Hans Lollick and little Hans Lollick, Inner and Outer Brass, Cockroach Island, Dutchman's Cap, West Cay, Salt Cay, Savana Island, Saba Island and Buck Island.
None of these sisters are safe from the same fate as Thatch Cay, unless we start to care more about our environment.
Funeral arrangements are pending due to the unclear starting date of the development.
In lieu of flowers use your vote carefully come next election.
Irmela Neumann
St. Thomas

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