ROADTOWN Tortola BVI, July 28th, 2011  – The Ministry of Natural Resources and Labour, the Conservation and Fisheries Department, the Cane Garden Bay Beach stakeholders, key local agencies and a regional expert will work to develop a beach management plan for the popular tourist destination this August to take effect in the upcoming 2011/2012 tourist season.

The beach management plan will address issues of overcrowding, conflicting use of spaces, poor waste management and water quality issues as it pertains to the Cane Garden Bay beach. It will also build consensus on ground rules to govern activity at the beach to ensure that residents, tourists, business owners and other users enjoy the best experience and maximum benefits that the Cane Garden Bay Beach has to offer.

Speaking to the development of the plan, Chief Conservation and Fisheries Officer, Mr. Bertrand Lettsome, said, “Success most often requires hard work, persistence and unity. I think these are some of the reasons that the Cane Garden Bay Beach Management Plan is transitioning from a shared vision to reality.”

He encouraged all persons to take advantage of this opportunity to correct the problems at Cane Garden Bay Beach, while creating a successful model that can be followed by other communities and beaches.

“I would like to thank the entire community and all the stakeholders for their commitment towards this initiative and I encourage everyone to participate and make a contribution to the process,” the Chief Conservation and Fisheries Officer said.

Dr. Janice Cumberbatch of the University of the West Indies and the Conservation and Fisheries Department will lead the two week stakeholder consultative process to be held from August 14 – 29.

Dr. Cumberbatch is a lecturer at the Centre for Resource Management and Environmental Studies (CERMES), at the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, Barbados. She holds a Doctorate in Participatory Planning, a Masters in Environmental Studies and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Sociology. She teaches courses in Environmental Planning, Professional Skills for Natural Resource Management, Environmental

The consultation will consist of a series of individual and collective public meetings with stakeholders, including residents of Cane Garden Bay, tourism operators based on or operating at the beach and key government agencies. The schedule of meetings can be found online at the Conservation and Fisheries Department’s homepage at http://www.bvidef.org.

The Conservation and Fisheries Department encourages all stakeholders to participate in the process to ensure that their views and interests are heard and considered in the beach management plan.

All stakeholders are invited to attend the public workshops and are encouraged to register their participation with Ms. Angela Burnett Penn (abpenn@gov.vg) or Ms. Atoya George (atgeorge@gov.vg) at the Conservation and Fisheries Department (494-3429).

The development of a beach management plan will ensure that the Cane Garden Bay Beach can continue to be a high value destination for tourists and residents.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Labour and the Conservation and Fisheries Department is committed to the sustainable management of the Territory’s natural resources to ensure prolonged, sustained and beneficial use.

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