Maracas Beach, a national disgrace

THE EDITOR: As a matter of public interest, you may publish this letter to Mr Howard Chin Lee, Minister of Tourism. Dear Sir, congratulations on your appointment to minister and its responsibility of development of the tourism sector. We trust that you will be attentive to the many challenges facing this sector, including the maintenance of pristine beaches which continue to provide economic opportunities for our citizens, while accelerating the tourism product itself. For ten years, Maracas has suffered from poor planning which has resulted in inappropriate beach and car park modifications. This has resulted in several degradations which have diminished equitable opportunities for the villagers who are the primary economic stakeholders. These planning and development degradations conducted by TIDCO and contrary to the Institute of Marine Affairs’ (IMA) advice and caution has resulted in:

• Disgraceful lavatory facilities and dangerous levels of sewerage and e-coli contamination and exposure on the beach and in the sea.
• The removal of the sand trap with resultant beach erosion.
• The inequitable redistribution of car park facilities and daily flooding throughout the rainy season.
• Dilapidated and inappropriately located and designed booths which are falling apart and sinking.
• Poor beach management with respect to garbage collection, even management and natural beach aesthetics.
Ultimately, TIDCO continues to orchestrate beach planning in a dictatorial manner that is without stakeholder inclusion.

We have addressed these degradations to Ministers and Prime Ministers for almost a decade, and recently at a TIDCO-convened meeting which included business and professional organisations it was unanimously agreed that TIDCO would address these issues. Unfortunately these stakeholders have not committed themselves to management principles including democratic and inclusionary planning, costs, deadlines and the equitable distribution of economic opportunity and wealth creation. TIDCO’s management of the tourism drive in Maracas Beach has become a national disgrace that must be addressed urgently and to which I, as Secretary, respectfully seek a confidential audience with you. Honourable Minister, our members have been disgruntled and disadvantaged by these unbearable circumstances. With your help Maracas Beach can be returned to its former pristine conditions. Due to the urgency of this matter, we respectfully request an emergency meeting with you within seven days of the date of this letter to discuss these matters.

GARY ABOUD
Secretary, Fishermen and Friends of the Sea