Philipsburg:---- On Tuesday January 6th, 2009 St. Maarten Pride Foundation and EPIC received word from a concerned citizen that there was a Caterpillar Backhoe in the sea at Kim Sha beach in the vicinity of the Royal Palm Beach resort and the Simpson Bay Bridge. The Backhoe was reportedly in the process of removing large amounts of sand from the water.Foundation volunteers arrived at Kim Sha beach to investigate the reports at
approximately 10 am at which time the driver of the above mentioned backhoe had already ceased operations. Upon making inquiries the Foundations learned that the Backhoe was in the process of removing sand from the sea with the intention of depositing it on Kim Sha beach in an effort to replace sand which was washed away during the passing of Hurricane Omar in October of 2008.
St. Maarten Pride Foundation and EPIC reiterate that these Beach dredging/ excavation activities often result in the complete removal and destruction of animals, habitats and ecosystems from the excavation site.
The removal of sand from the sea during Beach dredging activities furthermore often results in sudden depth increases and shifting of sand close to the shoreline, which can of course be extremely dangerous for unsuspecting swimmers.
Pride Foundation and EPIC are hereby reminding Dredging/ Excavation companies that aforementioned activities are a violation of the Island Nature Ordinance of 2003 and the Beach Policy. The Foundations also call upon Government and Commissioner Heyliger in particular to finalize, implement and enforce the Marine Park Ordinance.