Seine Bight Chairman Explains Why No-Objection Letter Was Issued

On Wednesday, we reported rising concerns over excavation in the Placencia Lagoon. The Placencia Village Council questioned why permits were approved while a coastal erosion study is still ongoing, and after earlier research flagged the area as a critical manatee feeding ground. The Department of the Environment confirmed it granted clearance, but the CEO admitted he wasn’t aware of those studies at the time. He also noted the site falls under Seine Bight, whose village council issued a no-objection letter. Officials now say the contractor failed to meet key permit conditions. Today, we asked Seine Bight Chairman Jose Aleman why the council backed the project.

 

Jose Aleman, Chairperson, Seine Bight Village Council

“Whenever an application has been applied for a permit, one of the requirements is to request from the Council a no-objection letter in order to receive the permit with the purview of the Mining Department. Foremost, it is noticeable and observable that within the Placencia Peninsula, it’s each one for themselves. So everybody would put on groundings, seawall, etc. The company Seaboard Holding Limited had approached the Siene Bight Village Council through its contractor in trying to receive a no-objection letter. 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 from the Mining Department.”

 

For now, dredging activity has been brought to a halt.

 

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

 

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