Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by this author are their own and do not represent the official position of the Barbados Today Inc.
Initially locating the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and the Blue Economy at the Civil Aviation Building in Charnocks, Christ Church, symbolised a government not seeming to be able to differentiate air from sea, up from down.
On the occasion of World Maritime Day in September 2020, Kirk Humphrey, Minister of Maritime Affairs and the Blue Economy, raised the issue of the UN Sustainable Development Goal 14 – “Life Below Water” which addresses the need to “conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development”. But that seemed to be just words.
In his message, he also spoke to “Understanding the interconnectedness of shipping to tourism; tourism to fisheries and agriculture; and the green to the blue economy is critical to our maritime awareness.” But that seemed to be just more words.
In a previous article, I spoke of those who talk much but say little. While the Blue Economy Minister spoke of the need “to achieve a safer, cleaner environment” his focus seemed to be on the money not the science, which makes me blue vex not only as a Barbadian but as the former
Permanent Representative for Barbados to the IMO (UN International Maritime Organisation).
The Minister focused on “strengthening the domestic shipping market”, a “maritime single window …to facilitate ease in doing business”, “Sail Clear…to expedite domestic vessels on arrival to, and departure from, Barbados”, and a “Sub-Committee to examine the Performance and Efficiency of the Port of Bridgetown.”
The Minister of the Blue Economy who is responsible for the Coastal Zone Management Unit said meaningfully little about protecting the natural marine environment. But actions speak even louder than words.
Actions towards achieving “a safer, cleaner environment” were not reflected in the Government’s welcoming of the cruise ship industry with open arms to drop anchor off Barbados during the COVID-19 pandemic. This came at a catastrophic cost to our marine environment; not just for us but for our children and our children’s children. They were pennywise and pound-foolish.
The UWI Centre for Resource Management & Environmental Studies (CERMES) Technical Report No 101, “Assessing anchoring impacts of cruise ships in Barbados during the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020” presents damning findings of the destruction to our coral reefs.
In an excoriatingly honest manner, the report states, “Given the recognised value of coral reefs as indicated by the stated fines in the Coastal Zone Management Act for damaging reefs (USD$150 per m2), this equates to millions of dollars in actual damage and far exceeds any short-term financial gains from permitting visiting cruise ships to anchor for a nominal fee.” The research also “…highlights policy failures in the management of coral reefs in Barbados that allowed cruise ships to anchor in coral rich areas…” Policy failures is diplomatic speak for “them do bare foolishness.”
For a cost benefit analysis CERMES highlighted: “Assuming that the fees were collected, this would have netted around BBD$275,000 (USD$137,500) for the 550 days of anchored time by the 28 ships.”
They noted the “Intangible benefits” which included “the international media and social media coverage of Barbados” which they note “was quite extensive and very positive… although very hard to quantify.”
However, they calculated costs based on the Coastal Zone Management Act (1998) which states that “any person who damages any coral reef, fish or other coastal resources ‘is guilty of an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine of $300 for every square metre of coral reef damaged or to imprisonment for five years or to both’. They suggested coral damage valued at “BBD$2.1 million (USD$1.05 million) occurred from just three anchoring events.”
They also highlighted that “these severely damaged reef sites are part of the bank reef system in Barbados, which is considered the most healthy of all Barbados’ reefs.”
Do the math. Netting around BBD$275,000 for the 550 days of anchored time by the 28 ships at a cost of BBD$2.1million from just three anchoring events. The report concludes, “The damage caused to coral reef habitat in Barbados by the anchoring of cruise ships during the early stages of the COVID- 19 pandemic in 2020 is clearly extensive and yet could have been avoided.” Could have been avoided! Dare I say again: pennywise and pound-foolish. What a motley crew!
Answer me this. Why after three years with a ‘blue economy’ focus, including a full ministerial infrastructure, are anchoring areas for cruise ships not assigned in such a manner that protects the environment? Why do they follow the money and not the science?
Answer me this. Despite both the Port Authority which is in charge of berthing and the Coast Zone Management Unit which is in charge of our reefs and marine environment falling under the same Ministry, why didn’t the Port and the CZMU not collaborate effectively? Why do they follow the money and not the science?
Answer me this. Why wasn’t the Coast Zone Management Unit centrally involved in an update and enforcement of the anchoring areas when the ‘buriffle’ of cruise ships descended on our coastline like locusts? Why do they follow the money and not the science?
Let me end by briefly touching on the matter of the St Andrew Outpatient Clinic reopening on 14 May 2021. I read claims in the media that,
“Another rural parish can now boast of access to health care in the heart of the community.” The reopening of the renovated St Andrew Outpatient Clinic at Belleplaine was heralded as an achievement. But seriously?
If you allow a facility to rundown, then close it down, only then to fix it up under the guise of “taking healthcare into the community,” is this really something to celebrate? The Bajanism ‘reverse back’ comes to mind.
I have come to appreciate over time that people don’t follow words but follow conviction for without conviction words are meaningless. Truth has no expiry date. May the Lord continue to be the people’s guide.
Guy Hewitt is committed to Barbados. He resides in Florida.
