November 5, 2013
Hon. Mark Simmonds, MP
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for
Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
Dear Mr. Simmonds,
I am writing in response to Mr. Edison Baird’s letter, dated October 28, 2013, requesting financial assistance from the British Government for the purpose of reviewing the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) that was carried out in respect to the proposal to reclaim Road Salt Pond (Pond) as a saltworks and establish a bird sanctuary in the eastern half of the Pond. I want you to know that I fully support this request and any review of the EIA whether done by the Government of Anguilla, the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States, the RSPB, or anyone else.
The Pond is a critical habitat that needs permanent protection from developmental pressure. During the past decade a mega-yacht marina was seriously considered for the Pond and the Pond has been filled in to create parking, road expansion and housing. There is no doubt that absent strong protection this habitat will continue to be threatened and ultimately, irreparably degraded. One need not look any further than St. Maarten’s Great Salt Pond to see the future of the Pond, if things do not change. The EIA details the complex nature of the Pond and existing threats and is helpful in understanding how to protect and preserve the Pond, with or without the addition of an operational saltworks.
The best way to protect and preserve the Pond is to put it back into salt production and to structure the operations in a way to protect and preserve its wetland habitat. Since the Pond is so open to a population center the saltworks will serve as a buffer between the population center and the protected eastern half of the Pond. If the saltworks is creating sustainable economic development, there is added economic incentive to protect it. Furthermore, the project is structured to significantly give back to the community and fund environmental programs.
For hundreds of years, salt production at the Pond was a sustainable light industry benefiting the Island, creating jobs and exporting goods. Nobody who was alive during this period has indicated a single negative impact from the saltworks operation and the EIA comes to this conclusion as well.
To the issue of hydrogen sulfide being released during earthworks, this issue does need to be further addressed. I have suggested that we dig a number of test dykes, mimicking new dyke construction and existing dyke restoration. Air quality should be monitored and evaluated during this work. While the earthworks required by this project will be a temporary impact, the saltworks will not disrupt life or commerce in Sandy Ground, but will rather enhance both.
There were a number of inaccuracies in the above referenced letter and I would like to take this opportunity to address them. The project does not call for the removal of mud from the canal that runs parallel to the houses that border it to the west. These backyards will be left as they are.
As to flooding, this has always been a major concern in Sandy Ground and always will be, with or without an operating saltworks. Flooding and land breeches occur when the Pond level is higher than the Bay. This happens because of heavy rainfall and runoff from the surrounding hills which raise the level of the water in the Pond. When operating the Pond as a saltworks, water levels will be kept at a low level as this is what is required to evaporate the saltwater most effectively. By keeping the water at lower levels, the Pond will have greater capacity to accept heavy rainfall and runoff and will be less likely to flood and breech into the Bay. To this point, the flooding mentioned in the letter all occurred after 1985, when salt operations ceased.
All of the existing flood mitigation plans in place will be adhered to under the project, including opening a cut to the Bay in the northwest corner of the pond ahead of a major weather event. By creating a breech in this area, it protects the rest of Sandy Ground from breeching in other more populated spots.
Lastly, there is no comparison to be made between launching rockets from Sombrero Island and a saltworks operation that went on for hundreds of years without environmental incident.
I look forward to an open and candid discussion of the EIA and its findings and conclusions. While I believe that the project is structured in such a way as to bring environmentally and economically sustainable development to Anguilla, the ultimate goal is to preserve and protect Road Salt Pond for future generations.
Sincerely yours,
Tom Graham
CC: Mr. Vincent Proctor, Secretary Land Development Control Committee
Mr. Edison Baird, Representative Road North
Ms. Farah Mukhida, Executive Director, Anguilla National Trust
Hon. Christina Scott, H.E. The Governor
Hon. Joan Walley, MP, Chair, Environmental Audit Committee, House of Commons
Dr. Peter Hayes, Director of the Overseas Territories
Mr. James Millet, RSPB
Ms. Grace Vanterpool, Interim Chair, ASPIRE
Mr. Nat Hodge, The Anguillian
(Published without editing by The Anguillian newspaper.)
