Tobago Correspondent
The Tobago House of Assembly (THA) and the Environmental Management Authority (EMA) are now pointing fingers at each other over who knew about the illegal land development project at Turtle Beach.
Last week, it was discovered that hundreds of turtle eggs had been crushed during the project.
On Tuesday, EMA CEO Hayden Romano confirmed that an investigation had been launched into illegal development at Turtle Beach that resulted in hundreds of leatherback turtle eggs being destroyed. Heartbroken over the incident, Romano asked how something like this could happen under the THA’s nose.
One day after his statement, however, Secretary of Food Security, Natural Resources, the Environment and Sustainable Development, Nathisha Charles-Pantin, confirmed that the EMA was alerted to the illegal development and that for some time the THA had been seeking the authority’s intervention in the matter.
“We have been talking to the EMA; it’s been a year and some, for them to act,” Charles-Pantin said.
In response to this, Romano said the EMA intervened in the matter last year but realised it was not under the agency’s remit. He said at that time, there was no threat to the nesting ground as well.
“We were aware of backfilling taking place on that side in September 2023. We sent correspondence to the THA and they responded that they had no knowledge of the matter and that no riverine works were planned for the area. Their response came in October 2023,” Romano said.
“The site was under the threshold of two hectares, which would require a Certificate of Environmental Clearance (CEC). However, if the river is going to be realigned or modified, it would require a CEC. Hence, we asked the THA if any modifications were being done to the river.”
He added that at this time, however, the EMA’s hands are tied and they can only take action if witnesses come forward.
“If, as it’s being reported, modifications took place, we are going to need a statement or evidence if we are to take action against those responsible. At this time, we have no idea who is responsible for these works.”
Meanwhile, the THA admitted that discussions on the development have been ongoing for a year with the property owner, Black Rock Village Council and itself.
But chairman of the village council, Larie Paul, yesterday lashed out at the THA and EMA, accusing them of failing to act quickly.
“The village council feels that the authority is playing games and shirking their responsibility. This matter was highlighted several times to ensure some sort of intervention could be made, some conversations could have been had with the landowner so we wouldn’t have to come to this point,” Paul said.
One source who was involved in the discussions with the property owner told Guardian Media the problem began after a river changed its course over the last 15 years, eventually running through the private property. Attempts to have the issues resolved with the THA didn’t go well, and in a bid to repossess the land, works to redirect the river and reclaim the land continued.
Tobago police are also now investigating the devastation of the leatherback turtle nesting site.
ACP Collis Hazel said the police will work closely with the EMA’s police unit to hold those responsible accountable.
Hazel said, “There are laws governing that. The police will have an interest in that, and therefore we will launch an investigation into that issue, so that whatever is unearthed in the investigation, the media will hear from us.”