After receiving an overwhelming amount of e-mails from Providenciales residents, enraged by the sand dredging in Leeward to create Star Island (a man made island in the style of Dubai’s Palm Island) just off the coast of Mangrove Cay, we’ve decided to publish the letters on WIV4 NEWS ONLINE to foster discussion on development in the TCI and in particular this new island that will have an effect on development trends in the Turks and Caicos and most likely in the Caribbean region as well.
The letters–drafted by an online group named “Stop Provo’s ‘Palm Island’” on the popular social networking site Facebook opposed to Star Island’s development–all contain the same text and seek clarification on another Leeward Marina development’s (Nikki Beach) involvement with the marina.
The e-mails read:
To Whom It May Concern:
I am writing to you regarding Nikki Beach’s involvement in the development of ‘Star Island’ in the Turks and Caicos Islands. The Turks and Caicos Weekly News has reported that developers behind the Nikki Beach Resort in Providenciales plan to create an island of $4m house lots on the reef adjacent to protected Mangrove Cay.
If this development goes ahead it will prove to be an environmental disaster. The increased sediment required to build this island would destroy the nearby mangroves and continue the destruction of the coral reef along Providenciales’ Grace Bay which comprise part of the Princess Alexandra National Park.
I would like Nikki Beach to clarify its involvement in this project. Nikki Beach prides itself on its surreal beauty and ambiance, I must ask you what price must the people of the Turks and Caicos and visitors pay for this beauty and ambiance? What value is a world class resort if the natural environment that makes it beautiful has been destroyed?
We are all becoming increasingly aware of the damage that human development is doing to the environment and yet here the Nikki Beach name is being used to help advertise the destruction of a very fragile ecosystem.
Nikki Beach has been called ‘Paradise on Earth’ please help to protect our paradise and clarify your position regarding this development.
WIV4 NEWS ONLINE has learned that Nikki Beach Hotels do not have any involvement with the Leeward Marina or Star Island. However, the Leeward Marina and Star Island’s developer Rodney Propps is also named as the developer of Nikki Beach Resort and Spa Turks and Caicos. Mr. Propps was reached, but refused to comment.
A separate online petition has also been drafted by The Mangrove Cay Defense Fund on Web site Care 2: The Petition Site.
That petition reads:
Fellow TCI residents, please listen to my story about the desecration of the Leeward-Going-Through area and draw your own conclusions as to whether your best interests are being served. It is a story that transcends nationality, political affiliation, regional identity or even hardened opinions on TCI development. This is an issue of National importance that will set precedents for all future development.
…”Star Island’, as designed, will establish high-end home sites over 95 acres of pristine conch and turtle habitat that is currently National Park. Are the Park boundaries to be redrawn, with “Star Island” to be taken out of the Park system? This hasn’t happened yet, and it seems as though experts would be consulted and public opinion gauged before taking such an extreme decision. As we all appreciate, there are no private beaches in the TCI. Is the TCIG attempting to privatize parts of one of our most popular National Parks?
WIV4 NEWS ONLINE opens this topic up for MODERATED discussion as we would love to receive the opinions of WIV4 NEWS ONLINE users in the Turks and Caicos and overseas.
For more on this story keep tuned to WIV4 NEWS.
Filed under: WIV4 FEATURES | Tagged: Turks and Caicos, Development, Caribbean, Private Islands, Star Island, Man Made Islands, Marina, National Parks, Petitioners, Protesters, FaceBook, Petition Site
I am against the idea of Star Island as everyone who is petitioning against it. The marine life that will be taken away for the sake of a new feature to an already beutiful Island doesn’t make sense.
I have been to Dubai and saw the Palm Islands and world Island there and to be honest they are not impressive….yeah it’s very inventive for a country like United Aram Emirates as they built a whole new city in the desert so they are creative but a Palm Style Island on Provo isn’t right just for the sake of $$…..history and marine life should take priority over money.
Will the petition do anything? Will we ever do anything? Yes this petition is a start but why should we ever have to have starts? Things like this should not be happening in the Turks and Caicos. Let’s free ourselves of things that only promises to take advantage of us.
Nothing left to sell!
What upsets me about this, is the fact that we are being priced out of our own country .The thing is after we sell all that the country has,we will not be able to afford to live here anymore.To them it’s the opportunity to make a quick dollar .
The people and our Life style is of no major intrest to them.
Who is selling out the people of the Turk’s & Caicos Islands? Who is selling off your assets and the future of your children? Is there no way to stop the rape of your environment? Answer these questions and take corrective measures soon or the Islands natural resorces will perish.
Whoever those developers are… they have no interests of this country. How could we as CITIZENS sit back and allow this to happen?? Where is the sense of pride in our country? where are the patriots?? What would it take to put an end to greed. I want the developer to read this is and hear me when I say, I am a Turks and Caicos Islander studying abroad and it is a shame to see that you are willing to destroy my home to make a quick dollar. Put an end to this madness, because if we don’t stop this one than we would see islands popping up everywhere.
I think the point needs to be made that many people, myself included who are against the construction of Star Island, are against it on ethical and legal grounds. There is nothing wrong with progress and constructing developments that are cohesive with the Turks and Caicos, serve to better our image as a luxury getaway, and bring money into the economy. However, from the information that has been made available concerning Star Island, it doesn’t seem that the contractors behind this project have taken any of these factors into consideration. The fact of the matter is that it is unethical and illegal to build a man made island in a protected national reserve, and it is up to us, the people of the Turks and Caicos to do everything in our power to make sure that this does not happen. Signing the petition is one way to get started, writing to the government might also help, as well as talking about this issue with realiable and accurate facts to as many people as possible.
The idea of selling out a national park for commercial gain is appalling. We were planning to retire in the TCI, but must reconsider. How can we live in a place that so mindlessly destroys its natural heritage? If the TCI government was working properly, there would not need to be petitions to save a national park.
Rec’d this e-mail last night from Coral Reef Alliance with a petition http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/time-to-draw-a-line-in-the-sand-in-the-tci
I am writing to you with an urgent and time-sensitive request. The government of the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) in the Caribbean has authorized a private developer to construct a 95-acre artificial island in the heart of the nation’s Princess Alexandria National Park.
Despite various research efforts, the full impacts from massive sand dredging on or near coral reef ecosystems is complex and far from fully understood. In a time when Caribbean reefs are already facing the threat of local extinction from coral bleaching, disease, and damages from coastal pollution and unsustainable development, we feel it is an unacceptable risk for the government of TCI to push this project through.
“Star Island,” as the project is called, will be home to a large commercial development consisting of a marina, luxury hotel, and exclusive private homes. The removal of sand in a national park is a criminal offense under the TCI National Park Ordinance and no public notice of this project was given, nor was any “open consultation with interested parties” as expressly required under the TCI Environmental Charter of 2001. The project was kept confidential until dredging began.
Please join me in sending a strong message to the TCI government that you are vehemently opposed to the destruction of this critically endangered coral reef habitat. By clicking here you will be redirected to the Care2 website where you can sign the petition against the construction of Star Island.
As always, thank you for your support – together, we truly can save coral reefs.
Brian Huse
Executive Director
Coral Reef Alliance
Wouldn’t it be contrary to a country slogan of “Beautiful by Nature”, when you allow outside developers to come in and “create” an island on a national park no less?
It will have to be changed to “Beautiful by Nature Incorporated”.
Please publish this Letter RE:Disaster Island TCI – Thanks:
To Whom It May Concern: April 25, 2008
Regarding: Disaster Island – TCI Star Island & Leeward Marina Development, Turks and Caicos Islands
I am a developer and entrepreneur with an extensive real estate development, finance, hospitality, land planning and economic development background.
In our increasingly interconnected and interdependent planet, our relationship to the natural world is key. Protecting and enhancing our National and natural treasures is important for our mental, physical, emotional and spiritual well-being. As individuals and nations we need to protect and enhance what we have. Animals don’t foul their nests. The Native Americans protected their land into the 8th generation. Balancing long and short-term needs is very important to economic development, land planning and to the needs of the people of the Islands.
The Star Island Development, an Environmental Disaster Island, will be in existence for a very, very long time. Having a severe adverse impact on a rare world treasure, this will negatively affect the economy, environment, society and the future of the Turks and Caicos Islands. Today, more than ever, humans need to live and thrive in harmony with people, nature and technology. Reefs and their fragile and dynamic ecosystems are complex and are irreplaceable.
The Turks and Caicos have a very unique and valuable competitive advantage from an economic development standpoint. These islands are not Dubai! The politics, natural and other resources and needs of the people are different from that of a wealthy, oil-based nation. True economic development in the 21st century is about more than just short-term promises of jobs and tax revenue. The enhancement of the natural and social capital of the islands, in a sensitive and sustainable way, is mandatory. This is the responsibility of every human on earth.
Filling and dredging clear waters and habitats are not appropriate. This is a very sensitive, irreplaceable, tropic coral and island ecosystem. These National Parks, Heritage Areas, conch, marine organisms and turtle habitats, beaches and reefs have taken millennia to evolve. The irresponsible actions manifested by the developers of the Star Island and Leeward Island Marina can quickly destroy these rare treasures.
Quoting from The Turks and Caicos Department of Economic Planning and Statistics web site:
“To facilitate the SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT of the Turks and Caicos Islands and to improve the welfare of residents by encouraging A BROAD CONSULTATIVE AND INFORMED APPROACH TO DECISION MAKING, in particular:
• Leading in the formulation of national strategies and monitor their implementation;
• Providing proactive and sound policy analysis and advice on all economic and developmental issues, in particular fiscal matters;
• Coordinating and facilitating the timely implementation of the Public Sector Investment Program;
• Coordinating assistance from our developmental partners;
• Maintaining and coordinating a quality statistics service that provides timely and accurate information to assist public and private sector management and decision making.”
The Star Island – Leeward Marina Development, Turks and Caicos Islands is:
• NOT – Sustainable
• NOT – In the long term welfare of The Turks and Caicos residents and the natural resource base TCI
• NOT – A Broad Informed Consultative Approach to Decision Making
As premier Michael Misick says – “let there be debate” on this matter.
The Star Island – Leeward Marina Development has been started in secret with out any public debate and scientific and environmental input.
Where are the:
• Environmental Impact studies?
• Feasibility Studies?
• Discussion and input from citizens, neighbors and other stakeholders?
Scientist and ecologist Barry commoner says – “you can’t only do one thing”
The planning and the preparation for a long-term sustainable land and economic development plan for the Turks and Caicos Islands is extremely important for the citizens, visitors, potential future investors and future residents of the Turks and Caicos Islands, as well as all citizens of the planet. The birds, fishes and corals have no vote, yet it is important for us to listen to their important voice. Natural gifts are to be treasured, protected and passed on to many future generations.
Together, let us continue to make the Turks and Caicos Islands a beautiful and sustainable thriving paradise. Star Island and the Leeward Marina Development epitomize an environmental disaster of untold proportions. These projects will only serve as a garish display of over consumption and glitz. The only beneficiaries of these disastrous projects are a few secretive and inconsiderate developers.
Michael Egnatz
505 Maryland Ave
Cambridge Md 21613
219 405 2028
lhgroup@hotmail.com