The World Resources Institute (2008) estimated that the shoreline protection service of reefs in Tobago, which reduces erosion and infrastructural damage, was worth 18-33 million USD per year (115-211 TTD million per year) - at the foreign exchange values for the period. The Buccoo Reef Marine Park is a marine protected area in Tobago that contains coral reefs. Those reefs provide coastal protection, which reduces the erosion of sandy beaches and mitigates infrastructural damage.
Therefore, the Buccoo Reef Marine Park contributes to Trinidad and Tobago’s GDP by providing shoreline protection services, which are valued in the millions of USD per year. Are there other benefits? Naturally there are. People earn livelihoods in the park, though certain considerations disallow Environment Tobago from providing up-to-date statistics (as pertains to their income). One big barrier to us knowing the park’s true revenue flow is not every marine park entrepreneur declares ’take’. Not by day, not by month neither by season, making park operators taxable contributions a matter of mirage.
Therefore the idea that the THA is facilitating facilities to facilitate shite-free entrepreneurial activity at No Man’s Land is mind boggling. If, that is, the rumours are true. To be sure toilets are needed on Sheerbirds Point, a whole lot of shite happens there. Still, where in the world does a park manager try to facilitate every urge every park visitor gets? Visit the truly pristine parks of the wider world and all you might get is a spade and perhaps a bucket of sawdust.
So there you have it. The idea of a lagoon-side privy is upsetting and not simply because its going to be costly. Or because we could have no way of knowing if the cost is justified, given the (erhm) itinerant nature of the transactions that occur on a daily basis in the marine park. Moreso the toilet on a sand-spit idea is abhorrent because the [entity’s name goes here] wanton and casual decision to facilitate entertainment of the party kind, for a target group whose aims simply does not fit in with the designated function of the protected Buccoo reef complex is to repeat, mind-boggling.
Further to this the logic used by [the agents of State] who decided to provide toilets for party goers on No Man’s Land falls flat against the provisioning rationale used for Scarborough [sic]City and Roxborough - where the ratio of toilets to people on the street is also unknown (and as vague as the aforementioned undeclared revenue of the hucksters of the park). Actually, thinking on it many popular beaches across Tobago suffer the blight of the dysfunctional toilet. Maybe there was a visitation by the Lord of the Shite which ensures no (you get it?) happens at No Man’s Land. Now this NGO is not in any way taking the peepee against people enjoying themselves, but this juncture is as good a time as any to inform the general public - you who are about to get a toilet on No Mam’s Land, why that may not work in anyone’s interest.
So let’s see if we can flush the notion of perpetuating parties and pooping on Sheerbirds Point by providing a bit of perspective. The Buccoo Reef Complex provides critical natural services towards the ecological balance of Tobago and to some extent Trinidad and probably even Grenada. That is, it sustains fish, bird, bug, plant and the body of humanity surrounding. The Buccoo Reef, the Bon Accord Lagoon, the mangrove forest and the marshes are in fact a singular unit, a marine protected area. The imperious notion that we can successfully retain such benefits while we party hearty, loud, stink and dutty is to repeat, mind-boggling. Environment Tobago can only implore you read/heed this before you need to use a toilet. And, should you decide to save it all for the privy at No Man’s Land then you are no better at securing the park than its present ‘stewards’ who no doubt are resting at the expense of the State.
Authors note: Cry for Buccoo is published every four years. At #5 the rate of progress against the park’s languishing issues will no doubt see future calls to action written by my grandchild.