Moving Of Dolphin Discovery

The Editor
The Anguillian

Dear Sir

Moving Of Dolphin Discovery

Last night a friend told me that Dolphin Discovery is moving to Mariners property in Sandy Ground. I have been hearing a rumor for months that they might be moving there, but I have always discounted the idea as ludicrous. I was shocked by the news.

From what I understand there has been a quiet dispute over the fate of Mariners for many years. The idea that a foreign-owned and operated business, that primarily serves a portion of St. Maarten’s tourist market, would suddenly have the right to operate out of the prime and historically significant Mariners site is truly preposterous! To add insult to injury, my friend informed me that additional plans for the site include a theme park replete with a train and caged animals!

As if the existence of several animals confined to a small space at Dolphin Discovery were not already troubling, from an animal welfare perspective, are we now to have more caged animals on display for the enjoyment of our neighboring island’s tourists?

I was told last night that work has already begun in the seabed in front of Mariners. Apparently part of our seabed is now to be used for a private, foreign-owned and operated profit-making enterprise. I suppose the beach necessary to access the confinement area will also be privatized; a direct affront to Anguilla’s laws concerning public access to all beachfront. Is this yet another example of Anguilla’s laws only applying to some of us?
In discussing this travesty with my friend last night, I mentioned that I had also heard a rumor that the dolphins were moving to St. Maarten over the past few months. This always seemed like a logical progression, seeing as it is primarily St. Maarten’s tourists that Dolphin Discovery serves. I was told, however, that St. Maarten would have required the company to pump their waste ¼ mile off-shore in order to operate there. This requirement would have apparently been too expensive to meet, and seeing that no such requirement is in place in Anguilla, the company has pursued moving their operation to Sandy Ground.
Good job, GOA! Since when has the pursuit of a few dollars from St. Maarten taken precedent over the interests of Anguilla and Anguillians? Can we look forward to more waste being released into Sandy Ground’s waters on a daily basis? Is regular bilge dumping by our cargo ship traffic not enough for us?

St. Maarten tourists contribute nothing to our tax base, no accommodation taxes, nothing! Why we court these tourists is beyond me… And how about the use of our offshore cays by St. Maarten/St. Martin businesses? These charter companies are making money hand over fist by visits to our cays that cause negative environmental impacts, and for which they pay no taxes!!!! This on top of the new licensing and work permit fees facing our local business people is enough to drive a hard-working Anguillian crazy!

I’d like to see a full disclosure of the current plans for the Mariners. We all deserve to know what’s being planned for this landmark site so we can voice our opinions on what seems to be another instance of poor decision-making at the expense of our natural environment, our right to enjoy our coastline without restriction and our need to nurture a strong and sustainable tourism economy.

A Concerned Citizen

Editor’s Note: Chief Minister, Osbourne Fleming, said in the House of Assembly on Tuesday, May 22, that the Planning Committee gave permission for the transfer to Sandy Ground. When the Government heard about it was was ordered to be stopped immediately