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Dear Sir:

Leeward Marina (Who owns Leeward?) has now applied to Governor Ric Todd and the TCI Planning Department for a permit to perform “Maintenance Dredging” of Leeward Going Through, the Leeward Channel through the Princess Alexandra National Park and sections of the reef at the existing Leeward Cut.

Maintenance Dredging is a term that is typically limited to the removal of accumulated sand in an existing waterway or marina. Referring to the work that is specified in the Leeward Marina application as “Maintenance Dredging” is misleading because the work includes removal of virgin sand and the cutting and removal of virgin rock and barrier reef.

Under the National Parks Ordinance;

3. (1) the following are prohibited in all national parks-

(c) the destruction of, or damage or injury to, any animal or plant

(d) the removal of sand, rock, coral-rag or any calcareous substance

While Governor Ric Todd may intend to act in the best interests of the owners of Leeward Marina, neither Governor Ric Todd nor the TCI Planning Department has the legal authority to approve the commission of a criminal offence inside or outside of the National Park. And that’s exactly what dredging in the National Park is: a criminal offence.

In addition, the application submitted to Planning by Leeward Marina purportedly fails to address any of the extremely sensitive environmental areas that were damaged in the previous illegal dredging of Leeward in 2008, or those sensitive areas that are immediately adjacent to the specified work area or the areas that are likely to be effected by the drifting silt that is created during the process of cutting and dredging rock, sand and reef from the ocean floor.

It is difficult to determine if the failure to properly delineate the extremely sensitive environmental areas within the National Park is incompetence on the part of those who prepared the application or another round of TCI corruption for the benefit of the rich and powerful.

Caicos Conch Farm

Reads: 1156


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