Minister for Tourism, Investment, Creative Industries, Culture & Information, Dr. Ernest Hilaire, has weighed in on the proposed quarry development at Anse Cochon, emphasizing the need to respect the ongoing approval process and protect the area’s fragile marine environment.
The quarry application is currently before the Development Control Authority (DCA), and a mandatory public consultation is under way.
Speaking on the matter, Dr. Hilaire said the consultation phase must be allowed to run its full course.
“The public consultation is taking place right now. We should allow it to take place. The DCA will make the decision based on the feedback that they’ve gotten,” he stated.
Hilaire noted that the Ministry of Tourism is particularly attentive to any activity that could cause environmental degradation, especially within sensitive coastal zones.
“We are very concerned with any action that would degrade the environment, and in particular, that would affect our marine ecosystem,” he said, pointing out that Anse Cochon is one of many proposed sites for the island’s underwater sculpture parks.
“We have a vested interest in making sure that nothing happens that would destroy the marine life and the marine ecosystem.”
The minister reiterated that decisions must come at the appropriate stage of the DCA process. “As far as I know, the public consultation is ongoing, and we should respect that process. At the appropriate time, the right decision should be made,” he added.
A consultation meeting was conducted by environmental consultants Alison King and Donnavan Williams, who are acting on behalf of the developer as part of the required Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). During the last session held in Anse La Raye, residents strongly objected to the proposed quarry. Community members argued that previous quarry operations in the area had already caused severe damage, including destruction of marine life, negative health impacts, and harm to local livelihoods.
The DCA is expected to review all submissions, including public feedback and the findings of the EIA, before making its final determination on the project.
