Canadian Cries Foul Over Barbados Government Endangerment of Key Wetlands

Ottawa (ots/PRNewswire) - Peter Allard, the Canadian
owner of an eco-tourist facility in Barbados, has filed a complaint
against the Government of Barbados alleging it violated its
international environmental treaty obligations at Graeme Hall Swamp.

The Graeme Hall wetland is a Caribbean flyway stop for migratory
birds between North and South America. The Sanctuary, located
entirely within the wetland, is home to some of the heaviest
concentrations of biodiversity on the island, and has been a major
environmental education centre for children, adults and visitors. It
is recognized internationally under the Convention on Wetlands of
International Importance (Ramsar).

Since 1994 Mr. Allard has invested more than $35 million (US) in
the 35-acre Sanctuary to preserve the last significant mangrove
woodland and wetland on the island.

His complaint filed this week with the Ministry of the
Environment alleged that Barbados has violated both the Convention
on Wetlands and the Convention on Biodiversity. The complaint
alleges that for over a decade, de-facto policies have been adopted
that increase pollution, encourage high density land development,
and ignore environmental stakeholder interests within the site.

Despite a 6,000 signature petition by citizens of Barbados to
create a 240-acre national park at Graeme Hall, a new government
zoning policy calls for commercial and residential development for
the majority of the area.

"Even without the impending development, the wetland has already
experienced increasing fish and crab kills in recent years along with
unpredictable water levels and toxic algae blooms," said Peter
Allard, an ardent environmentalist. "We have requested assistance
and offered technical and financial help to the Government of
Barbados since the 1990s to help correct years of government-run
sluice gate and pollution mismanagement."

The complaint also alleges that government dumped raw sewage by
the South Coast Sewage Treatment Plant into the Ramsar wetland
contrary to international law and its agreement with international
lenders who financed the plant.

A copy can be viewed at:
http://www.graemehall.com/legal/papers/Ramsar-Complaint.pdf
Bridgetown, Barbados
Archives and Art: www.graemehall.com/legal
http://www.graemehall.com/reference.htm
http://www.graemehall.com/press
Additional Information: http://www.graemehallnationalpark.org
For further information: Stuart Heaslet, [email protected]/

Rückfragehinweis:
For further information: Stuart Heaslet, [email protected]/

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