Inevitably, every so often our sister island of Anegada comes in for big plans, schemes or dreams. Starting in the 1960s with the British entrepreneur Kenneth Bates and his plan for a major development on the island, and then followed in the 1970s with a proposed oil storage facility and yet another major resort and residential development similar to an earlier one proposed by Mr. Bates.
By the 1980s these grandiose plans had lost their appeal. However, in the past few years they have re-emerged, and they are as grand as ever.
These new plans have included proposals for ideas such as a solar farm with a research institution, agricultural sheep and melon farming, a golf course, a solid waste recycling pilot project, a drag racing track, and a transshipment port facility.
Unfortunately, these types of grand development projects never quite seem to take into consideration a respect for Anegada’s environment, nor preserving the island’s overall balance.
Unique island
In case you did not know, Anegada is unique among the Virgins. She is a flat, almost submerged, coral-and-limestone island that has a very dry climate and is relatively isolated. These unique features, interestingly enough, have made her a biodiversity hotspot. Of the 332 different types of plants that have been found growing on Anegada, 50 are considered to be of special concern. Of these, three are endemic (found nowhere else in the world), and another eight are endemic to the VI and Puerto Rico. A total of 16 of these plants are recognised internationally as endangered.
Along with its flora, Anegada’s fauna is equally as important. The island hosts five regionally important breeding seabird colonies, and is home (full-time or part-time) to 99 different species of birds. The island is also a significant location for turtles, and of course it is home to the critically endangered, and endemic, Anegada rock iguana.
Low impact
Past surveys have shown that Anegadians favour development that is compatible with the scale of their community and island. They have expressed a preference for smaller, low-impact tourism development that preserves the environment as a core element of the island’s appeal, while at the same time improving the wellbeing of the people. However, like all Anegadians know, development projects proposed for their island almost always violate these strongly held wishes.
Anegada is a fragile product that is shared among many, and needs protection. If care in its development isn’t taken, its quality will be driven down, and the destination degraded — missing out on the opportunity to offer an enriched holiday experience to travellers.
{fcomment}