til and unless governmental agencies lead by example, international celebration days such as this, only serve to camouflage the plundering of our future generations entitlement.
Sandals Withdraw
Date: January 16th, 2019 Dear Editor/Newsroom, It has been reported that Sandals has withdrawn the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the construction of the Sandals Resort in Buccoo Estate, Tobago. Several sustainable development groups have claimed that this resort will result in the destruction of Buccoo Reef which was once rated as the “number three spectacular sight to behold in […]
Bad investments follows bad planning
Dear Editor/Newsroom, Dr Keith Rowley recently signed a cooperative agreement for the construction of a dry-docking facility in La Brea, between our Government and the China Harbour Engineering Company Limited (CHEC), a Chinese company with a decade long record of multiple corruption scandals and fraudulent governmental transactions. In 2009, Chinese Firm CHEC’s parent company, China Communications Construction Group (CCCC), was […]
Nine years and 265M Later -is Maracas Beach a National Disgrace?
Date: September 2nd 2018 Dear Editor/Newsroom, The Institute of Marine Affairs published the 2016 “State of the Marine Environment Report” which revealed that Maracas Beach had a “very poor” bathing quality rating due to sewage contamination. What is being done to address the seepage of pit latrines? The 1067 residents defecate on average 1067 loads per day, and they don’t […]
Defeated but not discouraged
Date: August 28th, 2018 Dear Editor/Newsroom, Fishermen and Friends of the Sea (FFOS) have been defeated at the Privy Council. The Privy Council’s written judgment will be delivered on 8 October, 2018. FFOS appeared on 30th July 2018 before the Privy Council against the Environmental Management Authority (EMA) and the Ministry of Works and Transport/NIDCO to appeal the decision of […]
Concerns raised 20 years ago are now echoed
Dear Editor/ Newsroom FFOS concerns raised 20 years ago are now echoed When will we learn? In 2000, Fishermen and Friends of the Sea (FFOS) lobbied for the protection of Invaders Bay Mangrove Forest, which were being secretly privatized and bulldozed for built facilities. Had a proper environmental impact assessment (EIA) been conducted, the function of the mangrove forest and […]
Hypocritical Public Statements
Fishermen and Friends of the Sea (FFOS) commend Minister of Planning and Development the Hon. Camille Robinson-Regis for her initiative to approve additional areas of forest for protection and sustainable use. However the Minister fails to realize the contradiction of her own statements with the decisions of her own cabinet members. Our nation has 35 designated forest/nature reserves, all of […]
FFOS vs EMA at the Privy Council on Monday 30th July, 2018
Date: July 30th, 2018 Dear Editor/Newsroom, Proceedings will be aired live online on the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (JCPC) website (https://www.jcpc.uk/live/court-03.html) Date – Monday 30th July 2018 Time -5:30 am Trinidad and Tobago time (10:30 am London time) On 29th September 2017, Fishermen and Friends of the Sea (FFOS) commenced Judicial Review proceedings against the Environmental Management Authority […]
How will Dr Rowley attract the Chinese Tourists?
Date: June 1st, 2018 Dear Editor/Newsroom, Twenty years ago Fishermen and Friends of the Sea (FFOS) began representing Maracas Beach shark and bake vendors. The problems then were never sufficiently addressed but instead have gotten worse. Facilities mismanagement, dilapidation, congestion and traffic, poor distribution of customers, and of course the relentless TIDCO sewage and its resulting public health risks. Today, […]
FFOS Initiates Legal Action Against George Aboud and Sons Ltd (see downloadable pdf for pictures)
Date: May 2nd, 2018 Dear Editor/Newsroom, Fishermen and Friends of the Sea (FFOS) have represented public interest issues in Las Cuevas since its inception in 1996. In 2004 the current owner of the Las Cuevas Estate, George Aboud and Sons Ltd applied to the EMA for a Certificate of Environmental Clearance (CEC) for the establishment of a resort to include […]