David Lashley, CM Reuben Meade, Chedmond Brownem John Miller, Anthony Maloney
The Sand Mining issue has been on centre stage for the past several weeks. While not yet determined, a jetty to facilitate the sand miners exporting the resource became the main issue as the LYME management brought the issue to the front at their most recent ‘Meeting of the Minds’ forum. This was held on Wednesday evening at 7.00 p.m.
The issue seemed to become steamy as the Chief Minister, Hon Reuben Meade featured an email he received from an Isle’s Bay resident. He was to discount the contents of the email as a representation of the Property Owners Association (POA) who are arguing on several grounds that a jetty in Isles Bay would destroy the value of their lives and properties, and the economic value and benefits to Montserrat.
Earlier and prior to that in a live appearance on the ZJB morning show on Wednesday the Chief Minister made out that the POA were against sand mining which activity is seen as a major economic boost to the island. However, in his own presentation as one of the guests on the panel at the discussion at the LYME in Brades on Wednesday evening, he was placatory (as he later described himself).
With retired former career public servant Anthony Maloney as moderator, presentations came from Chedmond Browne, former legislator between 2001-2006, represented the sand miners; John Miller, Isle’s Bay representing the POA, Peter Lashley, DLN consultant and Chief Minister Meade representing the Government.
Browne spoke to the economic values of sand mining and various commissioned reports on the location of a jetty and the activities between Foxes Bay and Isle’s Bay. He concluded that based on the reports which dealt wave actions, sedimentation, docking, among others led the sand miners that Isle’s Bay would provide a better facility. However, Browne expressed the opinion that the sand mining group did not wish for conflict, but are prepared to sit and find the best solution.
Miller was detailed addressing the fact that there was a decision that Foxes Bay presented the better option. He said that recently they learnt that there was expression that Isle’s Bay would be the chosen option. He expressed the damages that sand mining activity and a jetty would bring to the Bellam Valley and Isle’[s Bay environment, along with the consequences to the degradation of properties and wellbeing of the residents, causing flight and destruction of the economic benefits of tourism and residential tourism. He produced figures to support his Associations position that the economics of operating in Isle’s Bay as against Foxes Bay would return negative benefits for Montserrat.
Lashley sought to justify an Isle’s Bay option arguing. He discounted or lessened the discomforts that that properties and residents would suffer. He spoke to a properly planned operation, which would be more beneficially suited to Isle’s Bay.
The Chief Minister noted that he was not interested in disenfranchising the Isle’s Bay residents or any one, but will do what his government believes is the best option for the sand mining operations, which he sees as being Isle’s Bay. After addressing various issues but declining ‘for the time being’ to address the figures raised by Miller, the CM informed that no decision will be made until an Environmental Impact Assessment was concluded after about 12-13 weeks.
The crowd was considered to be the largest audience that attended any of the LYME’s forums, strengthened by the attendance of several of the Isle’s Bay and Old Towne resident community. Questions were varied of the various speakers and the general opinion was that the information in most instances was beneficial.
