What’s the difference between having a permit to destroy the natural environment and not having a permit to destry the natural environment? In Tobago such fine distinctions are of minimal concern. The island needs rocks, gravel, sand and water (water is mining but that’s a story for another day).
As a result of this push to urbanise, the biggest culprit is the State, leaving environmental cares to the private contractors who function as as willing despoilers in the name of progress. This scenario effectively nullifies the efficacy (files the teeth?) of the Environmental Management Authority who at day’s end is also ‘State’.
The gap between environmental management and socio-economic development is now so wide that even office space and operational budget for the Tobago branch of the EMA is cut. From the Environment Tobago perspective it would seem the only purpose there is an ‘EMA’ office in Tobago is to expedite permissions where and when goverment needs.
To be fair to low level EMA staffers, the ‘hands’ the Tobago EMA are tied. Tobago House of Assembly engineers, town planners and politicians with agendas who head this august institution have learnt to justify decisions that would, to the ordinary eye, simply not be feasible.
Unfortunately, recognising the problem and acting on the problem are not ingredients of the same meal. Will Tobago ever get to grips with its appetite for material? Unlikely; the key attendant issue is monetisation. In an arena where so much cash flows, reasons to stop it pale into insignificance.
Where is ET in all this?
The Environment Tobago record of involvement in this cause goes way back to the days of taking pictures of ‘contractors’ as well as home-owners carting off ‘river mouth’ sand for construction purposes. We have even gone on national TV to highlight organised mining (2017-19) led by senior THA people at the time.
More recently we presented a case to the relevant ministerial office who commendably acted on our information. A nationwide audit on mining activity was done. Which resulted in (here referencing only the Tobago case) a major player facing the courts. We will have more on this as it progresses.
On a separate but related matter Environment Tobago is continuing quiet and formal advocacy to have government sign on and ratify the Escazú Agreement[1] - which will protect groups and people in groups like ours as we tackle powerful actors against the natural environment.