The Sandals Scandal - Why did Sandals stop the Tobago Project?

 What do we know?

I am sure that we have all heard about the proposal to build a Sandals hotel in South-west Tobago (2018-2019). Like every major construction project, it needs to be approved by the Environmental Management Authority through a rigorous vetting process where all possible environmental effects that the project can be evaluated. The proposed project would consist of 700 to 1000 rooms however, Sandals decided not to continue with the project due to “bad publicity” and “criticism” that surrounded it.

Figure 1: showing Sandals in Curacao (2021)

Why was the project opposed by the public?

The area in Tobago where the project was proposed (Buccoo Reef Bon Accord Lagoon Complex) is known as a Ramsar site. A Ramsar site, determined by the Ramsar convention refers to a “treaty that provides a framework for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources” according to Ramsar. The Buccoo Reef Bon Accord Lagoon Complex in South-west Tobago Ramsar site was established in 2006 since it was recognized as a wetland of international importance.

This area has the largest population of seagrass in Trinidad and Tobago (approximately 50 hectares) and a large complex mangrove system spanning 130 hectares which are essential to marine life there acting as a feeding ground and a nursery. At this Ramsar site alone, there are more than 240 species of plants and animals that depend on this wetland.

Figure 2: showing the Ramsar Site and the area for the Proposed Hotel
(Nirvana Rajaram 2020)

This is why the public was unhappy with the Sandals proposal. They knew the importance of the Buccoo Reef Bon Accord Lagoon Complex to the environment and to their livelihoods. The introduction of this hotel could have had catastrophic effects on this delicate ecosystem that we so desperately need to preserve. The organization was given alternative locations to possibly construct the hotel where there would be lesser impacts on the environment but they declined the offers.

What does this say about the citizens of Trinidad and Tobago?

In my opinion, I think that our citizens care immensely about our environment. It may not always seem that way because as Trinbagonians we live a joyous, carefree lifestyle but we do care about our future generations. We used the opportunity provided by the Environmental Management Authority through public outreach forums to voice our concerns about the hotel’s impacts. I think, in the near future, we can have an environmentally conscious Trinidad and Tobago.

Figure 3: showing environmental consciousness (shutterstock 2021)


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Manatees in Trinidad and Tobago

Image
What are Manatees? Manatees, though they live in water, are classified as mammals because they come up to the surface every three to five minutes to get oxygen through their nostrils. In the Caribbean, we have the West Indian Manatee (Latin Name: Trichechus Manatus), also known as the ‘Sea Cow’. These gentle giants can grow up to 13 feet long and weigh up to 1200 pounds. Their diet consists of seagrasses and small invertebrates, consuming up to 15% of their body weight in vegetation. It is believed that the lack of predators in Trinidad and Tobago allows our Manatees to live up to sixty (60) years. Figure 1: showing a manatee floating (WNW Press Release 2021) What is the Status of our Manatees? In Trinidad, the Nariva Swamp is the most well-known habitat for manatees. However, based on an evaluation by UNEP/CEP in 1995, they determined that the manatee population consisted of twenty-five (25) to thirty (30) individuals in total. At that time the trend was that the population was de
Read more

Deforestation in Trinidad and Tobago

Image
What is deforestation in Trinidad and Tobago? Deforestation is defined as the removal of trees from forested areas across the world. Locally, we have three main forested areas: the Northern range, Central Range in Trinidad, and the Main Ridge in Tobago. It is important to mention that South Trinidad is also largely forested especially in and around the Trinity Hills. These forested areas are constantly under attack by legal and illegal deforestation. Figure 1: showing deforestation in Trinidad (Loop News 2021) Deforestation in Trinidad and Tobago Firstly, not all deforestation is illegal. Companies that require space for infrastructural development can apply to the Environmental Management Authority (EMA) for approval on the project. The EMA can determine the impact that the project would cause on the environment based on the details of the venture. Lumber companies also need to apply for a license before they teardown trees from any area. However, a large portion of the trees
Read more

Trinidad White-fronted Capuchin

Image
  Their Status: In Trinidad and Tobago there are a wide variety of mammals that live here unlike any other island. Our islands lie the closest to South America meaning that we have both continental and tropical species of flora and fauna. The White-fronted Capuchin is a monkey that can be found in many South American countries such as Venezuela (the closest South American country to Trinidad and Tobago), Columbia, Bolivia, Brazil, Peru, and Ecuador as well as in Trinidad and Tobago. Each country has its own subset or variation in the species that makes it unique. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature 2008, the Trinidad White-fronted Capuchin was declared as a critically endangered species with a total population size of 61 mature individuals in Trinidad and Tobago. When a species is critically endangered it means that the population size is less than 250 mature individuals. Since being classified as a critically endangered species there has been no further u
Read more