Residents of Anse La Raye and Canaries are voicing strong opposition to a proposed quarry development in their community, warning that it threatens the environment, local livelihoods, and the area’s growing tourism potential.
Their concerns came to the forefront this week as the Development Control Authority (DCA) held stakeholder consultations to discuss the project. The sessions were intended to inform the public about the quarry application and ensure community participation in the planning process.
Werner Housen, representing the DCA, clarified the Authority’s role: “Any application that may have impacts, both negative and positive, is required to go through this process. The DCA is not here to answer questions. It’s to ensure that the developer and their team inform the members of the public about what will be taking place.”
He added that the DCA wants “to ensure the developer does what is right by involving the community and the wider public before any approvals are granted.”
However, even as consultations took place, residents reported that excavation activity had already begun at the proposed site, despite no official approval from the DCA.
Community members say they are frustrated by what they see as a disregard for their environment and well-being. Drawing from past experiences, one resident recounted the lasting effects of previous quarry operations in the village.
“Our concern is based on history,” the resident said. “We’ve had two quarries here before, C.O. Williams, which recently closed, and Renault, which has destroyed our rivers. The river is dead. There’s no fish, no crayfish, nothing. The sea is dead, the coral reefs are gone, and fishermen are struggling to survive.”
Residents also fear the new quarry could harm tourism, a key source of employment in the area.
“We have Ti Kaye Resort right next to the quarry site. When blasting begins, what will happen to the hotel, to the houses nearby, to the marine reserve? The runoff will pollute the water, kill more coral, and destroy our beaches,” the resident added.
Concerns about employment were also raised, with claims that the quarry could threaten over a hundred tourism jobs while offering few new opportunities for locals.
“Maybe five or ten people will get work at the quarry, but it will displace over a hundred hotel workers. Our tourism product has such promise, this will destroy it. The community is completely, 100 percent against any quarry in our village,” the resident emphasized.
As the DCA continues its review, the consultations points to a deep divide between development ambitions and community preservation, with residents of Anse La Raye and Canaries determined to protect their environment and way of life.
