PHILIPSBURG:--- Member of Parliament Sarah Wescot Williams dispatched a letter to the chairman of Parliament requesting information on the halting and illegal dredging of the Simpson Bay Lagoon. Wescot Williams commended the Nature Foundation for their swift actions which resulted in the halt. Excerps from the letter sent to the Chairman of Parliament Dr. llloyd Richardson is copied below.
"Firstly, I want to commend Nature Foundation and the Maritime Inspection department for their swift action in connection with halting the illegal dredging that was taking place in the Simpsonbay Lagoon.
However, it should not have gone unnoticed that some persons felt quite comfortable to start this type of work without any time of approval or permit. At least, they were not able to produce this to the inspectors as reported.
I find it hard to believe that this is the case and I therefore ask the Minister to please answer the following question in relation hereto:
- Has the Minister received a report of these activities by the relevant government organizations?
- Was this work indeed started without any type of permission?
- What exactly was the purpose for the dredging?
- Who are the principals involved and will they be held responsible to undo the dredging already done?"
