Dredging Halted in Placencia Lagoon Amid Permit Breach

Dredging activity in the Placencia Lagoon has been brought to a halt after it emerged that a contractor failed to comply with key conditions attached to an approved permit and after growing concerns that the excavation was carried out in an area previously identified as a manatee feeding ground.

The Department of the Environment (DOE) confirmed it had granted approval for the project, but its chief executive officer acknowledged he was not aware of earlier studies at the time the clearance was issued.

The DOE further noted that the excavation site falls within the jurisdiction of Seine Bight Village, where the local village council issued a no-objection letter as part of the permitting process. However, officials say the contractor did not fully comply with all conditions outlined in the permit.

News Five asked Seine Bight Village Council Chairman Jose Aleman to explain why the council supported the application.

Aleman says the issuance of a no-objection letter is a standard requirement in the permitting process and helps applicants move forward with approvals from the Mining Department. He added that, within the Placencia Peninsula, development activity is common and that the council viewed the application as a formal step in ensuring the project followed legal procedures.

“As such, we saw that as a suitable move in terms of not doing anything illegal but trying to fit the necessary requirements in obtaining a permit,” he said.