BASSETERRE St. Kitts, February 11th 2011 - THE Department of Physical Planning and Environment hosted a media tour yesterday morning (Feb. 10) at several beach sites in Canada Estate and Keys Village to show the effects caused from illegal sand mining.
Sand mining is the removal of large or small quantities of sand from the beach by machine or hand, usually for building purposes. As construction now requires less wood and more concrete, increased sand mining is done because of the demand.
The tour was headed by Conservation Officer Andy Blanchette, who indicated that the operation of sand mining is having a serious impact on the environment, especially the illegal part of it.
Although no one has ever been prosecuted for illegal sand mining, Blanchette said it could result in prosecution and the perpetrator could be fined EC$10 000 or one year imprisonment.
The Conservation Officer however noted that sand could be mined from beaches legally in designated areas.
“To remove sand you have to go and pay for it at the Public Works Department; they are the ones legally in charge of the process,” he added.
He explained that Ghaut sand could be purchased at $5 per cubic yard and bay sand at $7 per cubic yard.
Media representatives were shown a number of areas referred to as “hot spots for sand mining”, and some of them were badly eroded, which caused water to settle forming ponds.
Blanchette also stressed the effects of sand mining seen in Basseterre on many occasions following heavy rainfall, where the sand builds up in certain areas. This, he said, also affects the beaches and could soon grossly affect the tourism industry.
He also noted that the mining of sand in some areas infringes on turtle nesting, as turtles depend on sandy beaches to lay their egges.
“We sometimes have to put some mechanisms in place to prevent the miners from the continuous removal of the sand,” he said, while pointing to a four-foot deep trench that was constructed to prevent vehicles from going through the area to collect sand.
According to Blanchette, it is the duty of the Department of Physical Planning and Environment to carry out assessments and provide the Public Works Department with information on areas suitable for legal sand mining.
Blanchette however stated that as a result of the many individuals engaged in illegal mining, they are working on putting measures in place to frequently monitor the areas on a more regular basis before the situation worsens.
