Sometimes they are very passionate, but usually, they have a valid point for discussion...such as issue below...


Move to stop Star Island in national park
RESIDENTS incensed by plans for a Dubai-style artificial island in the heart of a Providenciales national park are preparing to take legal action to halt the works.
The row is the latest in the Leeward Marina development debacle which has sparked anger among Islanders who say the project is destroying the area’s prized coral reef.
Developers behind the Nikki Beach resort, condos and yacht club plan to create an island of $4m house lots on the reef adjacent to protected Mangrove Cay.
If it goes ahead, the scheme will be similar to Dubai’s notorious Palm Island, the world’s largest artificial island, commonly dubbed an ecological disaster.
People living nearby are now seeking an injunction on the grounds that the area backs onto a nature reserve with environment and local tour operators.
One resident told the Weekly News: “This is a pivotal point for the TCI, a critical moment in history.
“If we don’t stop it, it will set a precedent for every other developer.
“This area has one of the most pristine conch beds Mother Nature has ever created. Not only is it a national park, it’s our national identity.
“I am not an overt environmentalist and neither am I opposed to construction but there really has to be some lines drawn here.
“If people think there’s sediment from the dredging for Nikki Beach, just wait until this one starts.
“They will have to dig from somewhere to create what we believe is going to be a 100-acre island.
“It will be an ecological disaster just like Palm Island.
“We cater to high end tourists who come to enjoy our beautiful by nature islands. This goes right against the grain of that philosophy; it’s the very worst development imaginable.
“By focusing on the pot of gold, these people can’t see the rainbow.”
Chuck Hesse, one of the original members of the National Park Committee and owner of Providenciales’ pioneering Conch Farm, also said he was “concerned” the scheme could be the first of many similar projects.
“When Dubai’s Palm Island was built, there was nothing to destroy; it was just sand.
“Leeward has been a prime place for lobster and conch for decades and it’s going to be damaged.
“We only have so many nature reserves and if they are trashed you can’t bring them back.
“The coral reef is priceless. It is precisely what is providing the attraction for all these condos in addition to what it provides as protection from storms.”
Another resident and yacht owner said it was “nonsense” to develop Star Island when the TCI has abundant developable land and beaches.
“It will destroy a supposedly protected nature reserve and also eliminates a breeding area.”
He said he feared the scheme would create stronger ocean currents making it difficult for freights and yachts to pass through at certain tides.
A DECR spokesman confirmed there were some “conditions” that had to be met before Star Island could go ahead.
The gated 423-acre Nikki Beach scheme comprises a five-star hotel, spa, night club and signature Nikki Beach Club.
The waterfront, advertised as an eco marina, will feature 15ft wide floating docks, 24-hour access and on site Customs and Immigration.
A sanctuary for international jet setters and yachters, developers also hope to build a casino.
The Beach Club, Marina Club Villas and marina are set to open to the public on March 15 with the 100-room Nikki Beach Resort and Spa due to open in 2009.
Developer Rodney Propps previously told the Weekly News the company had carried out a number of environmental impact studies.
“Everything we are doing we have a licence and planning permission for and all works are to international standards.
“We are opening the country’s first mega yacht club and that is why the Government is completely behind us.”
He added that nearby residents would be appeased to hear their properties had increased in value by 400 per cent since the works began.

And from a potential investor...
Reader Opinions

Nigel

MAR 12 • We visited TCI for a month in January this year specifically in view of purchasing a small sailing business. Both my partner and I fell in love with the island and where seriously considering our futures there.
On further investigation, concentrating on the practicalities of the business, logistics and the mooring/docking situation currently in place we were troubled by our findings.
It appeared, the management of the only natural channel, north to south of Provo, and therefore safe waters of “Leeward Going Through” where being handed over to a single developer. If this was true the continued use of the boats existing mooring, essential to us to run the business effectively was in serious doubt, this we where told would affect not just us, but all those currently operating out of Leewards.
With this information I visited the resorts site office as a potential client. I was introduced to a developer’s spokesperson; he sat me down in his office, offered me a drink, and gave me the scripted sales pitch. He enthusiastically showed me plans, drawings and photographs of the full development, supported by glossy brochures of partners involved (big names were dropped, big time).
I confidently indicated my interest in investing in the resort and asked some probing questions. As he relaxed, to my dismay, he openly bragged how the resort was a “guaranteed success” and a sound investment for all. He went on to explain how TCIs highest of high had a vested interest in the project and that any local opposition to any of my concerns would be simply squeezed out, or assimilated into the fold. His final explanation being “Nothing could stop something this big” not with this much support.
After questioning him further over the possibility of alternative mooring options being developed in the channel he went on to assure me that “they” would be in full control of any and all Leeward activity. He insisted all this was assured because a 100-year licence had been issued to the developer for the exclusive maintenance of the Leewards channel, which meant they would need to keep it clear. With a “finger to the nose expression” he went on to tell me this was just the beginning, as they were also building the exclusive and private “Star Island” and that this along with the development of “Emerald Point” would help create a exclusive gateway to Leewards. I gasped and excused myself saying I needed time to think about it?
Rumours of corruption are rife in TCI and who knows if the stories and brags are true, but even the most gullible must admit there are grounds for genuine suspicion.
We are still interested in the sailing business, but any purchase is entirely dependant on the confirmation of independent mooring options continuing in Leewards. In the greater scheme of things ours is a trivial, personal concern, so It’s good to see the press are picking up on the long-term damage being done in an area of such natural beauty. Commerce is important for any society to live and grow, but there should be legislation that restricts destructive geed on this scale.

The dump needs to be a landfill,covered everday to reduce the number of vectors. As the lanfill grows,wells need to be drilled utilising perforated casings all the way to the base. The casings are to be capped and the methane gas collected from the wells and pumped to a storage tank or tanks,where the gas will be used to run internally combustion powered generators,producing free electricity.
All bulky bio-mass "trees,branches,leaves,brush,etc" needs to be ground,wind-rowed and composted to produce mulches and then screened to produce the fine topsoils that we are in dire need of.:hammer:
None of this is high-tech,it is a modest investment in our environment.


I posted last night that the dump is in fact a landfill!

My question is does the environmentalists have any power to make an impact as it relates to change?