Company Withdraws Controversial Proposal To Manage Tobago Cays

Created by doina. Last modified on 2004-05-29 10:49:57
Contributors: Sally Erdle, Caribbean Compass
Countries: St Vincent & the Grenadines

At a press conference held in St. Vincent & the Grenadines on May 5th, 2004, Robert Barrett of Palm Island Resorts Ltd. announced that his company is withdrawing its controversial proposal to manage this tiny Caribbean nation’s only National Marine Park, the world-famous Tobago Cays.

The unprecedented prospect of allowing a private company to manage a national marine park on a profit-sharing basis with government had rung alarm bells at local, regional and international levels. Barrett cited as the main reason for his withdrawal the number of messages which his resort has received from travel agents and tour operators alarmed by the controversy the issue has generated.

Concerns about the proposal, which were raised immediately when it was first made public last year, spread rapidly through sectors ranging from the local Chamber of Commerce to the international yachting and marine-environmental communities. The uninhabited Tobago Cays offer a natural pristine anchorage, palm-lined white sand beaches, unique island formations and a coral reef system of great environmental importance. The Tobago Cays are also important to the livelihoods of many people in the Grenadines, and are considered a significant natural heritage site.

From April 24th to 26th, a group of concerned Vincentian citizens called Friends of the Tobago Cays, joined by an alliance of Grenadines-based environmental groups, hosted an open public Tobago Cays Educational Forum that has been hailed as a “watershed event” in Caribbean marine protection awareness.

The Tobago Cays Educational Forum was held during two, one-day sessions, the first taking place at Clifton Harbour, Union Island, and the second in Kingstown, St. Vincent. The purpose of the forum was twofold: to provide expert information to the general public regarding the purposes and best management practices of marine protected areas; and to provide an opportunity for open public dialogue regarding the fate of the Tobago Cays Marine Park.

The Friends of the Tobago Cays, a not-for-profit and non-governmental organization, exceeded all expectations for the event. In addition to an invitation to the public, over 200 invitations went out to dignitaries, government departments, community leaders, relevant individuals and organizations, as well as to the local, regional and international media. The forum was also broadcast live on the 26th of April on two popular local radio stations, involving thousands of listeners.

A cross-section of local stakeholders, representatives of non-governmental organizations and community leaders eloquently expressed their concerns regarding the Tobago Cays. Participants included the Mayreau Environmental Development Organisation, the Union Island Eco-Tourism Movement, the Union Island Water Taxi Association and the Union Island Association for Ecological Protection. Grenadines community activist and former schoolteacher Mrs. Vernalyn Blencowe said, “We are the custodians of the Creator’s gifts. How can we change the tide of sell-out deals that turn our marine environments into Dead Seas?”

Presentations were made by top-level local, regional and international experts, including educators from the Centre for Resource Management and Environmental Studies of the University of the West Indies, the Tobago Cays Park’s former manager Kurt Cordice, and managers of other marine parks in the Wider Caribbean Region. Also on hand were representatives of international environmental groups such as The Nature Conservancy, and noted marine biologists from Canada and the US. Billy Causey, Superintendent of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, stressed the importance of vigorous stakeholder involvement in the management of any and every successful marine park, and called the event a “very important initiative”.

The attending public was invited to participate in the discussion. A broad cross-section of the people of St. Vincent & the Grenadines, regardless of political affiliation, social status, economic position or place of residence, spoke with one voice: “We must provide the best possible sustainable management for our only National Marine Park, our beloved Tobago Cays — and we can do it!” Citizens were joined by visitors such as popular cruising guide author Chris Doyle, who noted that due to the efforts of grass-roots stakeholders such as the water taxi association, he has recently seen the return of marine life in the Cays such as eagle rays and sea turtles which he hasn’t seen there “in 20 years”.

The Tobago Cays Educational Forum has raised awareness of marine protection issues in the Caribbean to a new level, both locally and internationally. Friends of the Tobago Cays has offered its thanks to all the organizers, presenters, and sponsors that helped to make the Tobago Cays Educational Forum such a success. The organization has also pledged to continue its work to ensure the protection and proper management of the Tobago Cays Marine Park, and to continue to embody the appreciation for the environment that is instilled in all who know the Tobago Cays.

Although Palm Island Resorts' proposal has been withdrawn in the face of intense public debate, the fate of the Tobago Cays remains uncertain. At the May 5th press conference, St. Vincent & the Grenadines' Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves stated that his government now intends to manage the Tobago Cays Marine Park along the same lines that were spelled out in the Palm Island proposal, which according to critics favors revenue generation over environmental protection.

For more information contact the Friends of the Tobago Cays at info@tobagocays.org