There's process and then there's PROCESS

Government finally allowed the public, their so-called bosses, to see the plans for Buccoo Estate. As we may recall the 'Buccoo' was gifted, inadvertently and because of a series of unforced errors, to the State when a local entrepreneur over-reached, in a manner of speaking. Today the country is looking recoup that expense, accrued when government bailed out let's say, CLICO's affected interests. Its a big story, concerning big money. 

But enough of that We are now faced with a situation where another entrepreneur - albeit from points further north, is being offered another sweet deal. Hopefully that property this round will make a better return on its investment. 

Thing is Sandals and Beaches may or may not deliver as expected and hopefully in some quarters that particular conversation is under discussion. However we at Environment Tobago is taking on a relatively simpler task. Not easier, just simpler. We speak for the environment since Tobago's ecosystems cannot speak for themselves. To be clear we have only the one strategy; to ensure the project at the Golden Grove Buccoo Estate follows process. Government if you may recall, sometime plays fast and loose with the term. 

As it turns out, mere days ago the application for a certificate of environment clearance - seeking a green light to create 'hotels and a golf course' was lodged with the relevant authority. It was made by a brand new company with its offices in Tobago. Nothing wrong with that: Except the process by which such companies are started is expensive. Moreso if they are conceived in the dark and in silence. Such seems to have been the case with Golden Grove-Buccoo Limited. But again that too is outside ET's pay grade. This NGO is still merely concerned with speaking for the environment if or when it comes under threat. 

Obviously though we are thinking that the decision to create a for-profit entity with other people's money is - even if legal, still governance by closed-door policy. And this where ET sheds a tear for the Open Government Initiative. Moving on. 

There are interesting if minute, snippets in the Golden Grove-Buccoo CEC application. In replying to question 7 regarding proposed development activities, the company lists its neighbours exclusively and specifically as the Tobago House House of Assembly, Samaan Grove Development and the Water and Sewerage Authority. 

Don't they think small matters? Like the tiny village of Buccoo which directly interfaces with this project. One week into the Sandals and Beaches reality and already a whole village is disowned. Anyway if government can't be bothered by socio-economic impacts, what business is it of Environment Tobago? 

In response to question 9 (same CEC application); which requests a list of proposed activities and categories, Golden Grove-Buccoo Ltd affirms it needs to clear land, #8 under the Designated Activities code. Similarly the company states its intention to pave (#9), to build hotels (#11), to reclaim land (#12), to modify the coastline and to build off the shore (#13), to establish parks and nature trails (#31), to build roads and car-parks (#33), to trap and store water (#39), to run a network of pipelines (#40), to establish drainage and irrigation systems(#41). 

And that's it. Period. Nothing is mentioned in the application about services; like the laundry. Which would have had to be included - aptly, under #43 or 'Provision of other services'. But there's no mention of what's to happen with the dirty towels and soiled linen from those two hotels. 

The application also disregards, by virtue of not including #35 - a facility for solid waste disposal. What? The Sandals and Beaches hotel think Tobago rubbish trucks are going to collect MSW as and where it occurs? Please. 

We also note that hazardous waste or persistent organic waste - as surely the spas, the 900+ rooms, and golf course must generate, is not foreseen by the developers as things they need to manage. So it would be nice that the EMA adds #36 to the list if they read this. 

We come to the what-ifs. Building a couple of large hotels in a restricted area (see Marine Areas- Preservation and Enhancement Act 1970) is fraught with what-ifs. What if a flood, storm surge or god forbid, hurricane or even earthquake were to happen? Not much if the hotel take such eventualities into account. True, the folks at Town and Country (Planning) may have criteria in place to mitigate those possibilities. But its the minor things - like spillage from onsite fuel tanks or broken sewer lines that can harm the already stressed Buccoo ecosystem. 

Environment Tobago therefore would like to see huge emphasis placed here even while we readily admit that the details no doubt wil pop up soon as Golden Grove-Buccoo Ltd gets its CEC and moves into the deep planning phase.

 So there, we've kept our concerns to minimum, focussed solely on the CEC application and not said a word about the project's proximity to the lagoon; a nursery of inestimable value to reef, the fisheries and thousands of people (outside of Sandals and Beaches and Golden Grove - Buccoo Ltd). 

But we do have a few truly key concerns to share. Should the project manifest. Someone, preferably several groups, must keep an eye on the quality of water entering Bon Accord Lagoon, Pigeon Point and Buccoo Bay. Someone - preferably outside of WASA should monitor the groundwater quality; now more at risk with two hotels, a golf course and a huge sewerage plant adding to the old existing burdens.

Environment Tobago also takes this opportunity to suggest a face-lift for No Man's Land using the proposed project. Perhaps it could be included as a Terms of Reference deliverable - a mitigating act. Sheerbirds Point is a delicate matter, given its socio-economic value and all. But the combination of traffic (from Sandals guests and the traditional users) will no doubt demand some advance planning for use of the sandspit. Its a fragile zone. Indeed noise pollution, the jetskis presence, watersports in the lagoon, are all negatives that need to be regulated. If this can't happen, neither Sandals and Beaches nor Tobago's other tourism operators will have bioluminescence  (for example) or Coral  Gardens, or No Man's Land, to augment their product.

We've not mentioned it before, but the natural heritage aspect - the intrinsic value of the area that's about to be developed will cause some sour faces; Tobago on the ground, among the Trinis, and certainly among the diaspora. There needs to be some communication measure taken - in front, lest the money government spends on Golden Grove-Buccoo is lost. Like it was for the last owner. Environment Tobago is no expert but the endowment of a public natural museum is a small and probably wise start. 

Finally. Ecological balance is not something Trinidad and Tobago has value for, given the use patterns at the reef, the lagoon and the mangrove. Yet the need to achieve sustainability makes positive change there imperative. The State, coming in as it did, needs to show stewardship for the area. Though we expect some of that burden may fall to Sandals and Beaches . And nothing's wrong with that - with big tax breaks should come big responsibilities.