BEST: Long Term Implications Of Cup Decisions
The Bermuda Environmental and Sustainability Taskforce [BEST] said they applaud Bermuda on becoming home to the 2017 America’s Cup and look forward to all of the exciting opportunities that this presents our Island home.
“Before we plough ahead with our preparations, we would just like to highlight that it is important to be mindful of the longer-term economic, environmental and social implications of each and every development,” BEST said.
“BEST encourages the Bermuda Government, the West End Development Corporation [WEDCO], developers and all Bermudians to take a longer-term view as we begin preparing for the America’s Cup. Let us “begin with the end in mind”, and ask ourselves how each development fits into our longer-term plans, be it for marinas, hotels, transport or cultural developments.
“Let us strive to achieve facilities of which everyone in Bermuda can be proud. It is only by being mindful of the longer-term implications from the outset that Bermuda can be left with sustainable solutions that achieve environmental, economic and social prosperity for the broadest segment of our community right through 2017 and far beyond.”
The full statement from BEST is below:
The Bermuda Environmental and Sustainability Taskforce [BEST] applauds Bermuda on becoming home to the 2017 America’s Cup [AC] and looks forward to all of the exciting opportunities that this presents our Island home. As examples, the AC will bring in foreign capital, and that will bring much needed economic stimulus to the Island.
Before we plough ahead with our preparations, we would just like to highlight that it is important to be mindful of the longer-term economic, environmental and social implications of each and every development.
Economic
We must ensure that Bermuda achieves the best value for money and aims to develop in a way that will provide lasting economic use and benefits for the longer-term. We do not want to end up with derelict or under-utilised developments in 2018 and beyond and we do not want the taxpayer to end up with a net loss from this event like San Francisco. We cannot afford this.
There are questions that should be addressed beforehand:
- What is the plan?
- If the plan is to go ahead with land-filling eleven acres at Dockyard for a “village”, what will that area be used for after the AC?
- Will it accommodate tourism in the future?
Environmental
We must ensure that all development is done in a way that minimises damage to our marine and terrestrial environments. Despite tight timelines, emphasis must be placed the environmental consequences of each development proposed and we must work together to come up with the plan that enables us to achieve suitable facilities for this world class event with as little environmental disruption as possible.
For larger developments, thorough and reputable Environmental Impact Assessments will be critical. The breathtaking natural beauty of our Island and its harbours played a huge role in winning us this cup. We must be careful not to degrade this as we scramble to prepare for 2017.
Once again, some questions should be posed here, such as:
- What marine habitats will be affected?
- In what ways will they be affected, and how extensively?
- Are there ways to promote other areas simultaneously to offset this?
Social
We must ensure that Bermuda achieves the best outcomes for all Bermudians in both the short- and longer-term. All developments should be in keeping with our uniquely Bermudian cultural heritage and, where permanent, should be designed to be something that all Bermudians will use and enjoy for decades to come.
The jobs created and opportunities presented by this event are expected to be far-reaching and we must strive to ensure that the benefits, whether direct or indirect, reach all segments of our community. This is an event that may only happen once in our lifetimes. This is a chance to come together and to celebrate all that we, as Bermudians, can achieve when everyone, political parties and individuals alike, work together. This is a sentiment that will hopefully stay with us for many years to come.
BEST encourages the Bermuda Government, the West End Development Corporation [WEDCO], developers and all Bermudians to take a longer-term view as we begin preparing for the America’s Cup. Let us “begin with the end in mind”, and ask ourselves how each development fits into our longer-term plans, be it for marinas, hotels, transport or cultural developments.
Let us strive to achieve facilities of which everyone in Bermuda can be proud. It is only by being mindful of the longer-term implications from the outset that Bermuda can be left with sustainable solutions that achieve environmental, economic and social prosperity for the broadest segment of our community right through 2017 and far beyond.
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It looks like MP Bean and Mr. Hayward have the same message… but words do make a difference!
Another White elephant.
Apparently you don’t know what a white elephant is. The Grand Atlantic is a white elephant. The sometimes open clinic in St Davids is a white elephant. The 60 year old tugboat, bought almost 10 years ago, is a white elephant.
What a Kunta…
Mr. Hayward.
With all respect take a vacation and let Government get on with the work.
Nothing will be destroyed by this new and other developments.
You and your cohorts don’t moan about the shoreline coral and fish that are damaged when cruise ships thrust away.
Let it go.
Shalom.
Ikr! What exactly do they do other than complain about every single development.
Micro, perhaps if we had laws in place to ensure that comprehensive impact assessments are undertaken for all large developments BEST wouldn’t have to be “complaining.” You may want to google Martha’s Vineyard to see what environmental protections they have in place to preserve their highly-valued quality of life.
Terry (December 8) wrote: “Nothing will be destroyed by this new and other developments.”
BEST response: actually, reefs WILL be destroyed during dredging of the shipping channels, and substantial amounts of seagrass (a protected species) and turtle and juvenile fish habitat WILL be destroyed by the landfill.
To see the concerns BEST has already expressed in articles and on our website, see the following links:
http://best.org.bm/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=447:best-response-to-eez-marine-protected-area-mpa-public-solicitation&catid=29:press&Itemid=39
http://best.org.bm/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=431:shipping-channels-alterations&catid=29:press&Itemid=39
Terry,
BEST is just doing their job as an environmental and sustainability agency. Their statements are focused solely on the long term benefit for Bermuda and we should appreciate their input and not discourage it. They are only formally voicing in a very positive way what many residents here have considered and probably appreciate attention paid to.
what would it have taken for Mr. Bean to utter these same words?
Morality?
Not sure what BEST is questioning here. Fill for the land created is planned to come from channel dredging. Assuming the bulkhead is installed first there should be very little silt as the spoils are dumped behind the bulkhead.
No, the land created will no be used for tourism. Government has already stated that the M&P tenders & bouts dept will move there, along with a boatyard. Presumably buildings currently occupied by M&P will be available for tourism related use.
All of this is already in public domain. What is the problem?
The landfill will come from the dredging of living coral reefs that are larger than City Hall, not “the channel”. The water overflow will spill from the bulkhead and that will carry very fine silt at high concentrations. The area is critical habitat for juvenile black groupers, the last of 10 species of big rock fish that we used to have.
Stupid use of the land. They should build a large multipurpose indoor convention centre there.
Triangle Drifter (Dec 8) wrote: “What is the problem?”
BEST response: currently there may be no problem. However, in order for the developments (village, marinas, staging sites) and practices (energy consumption, waste production and management, carbon footprint) to avoid becoming major problems, we are encouraging Government and the involved parties to think carefully about all aspects of the upcoming developments and to take a longer-term view. The overall objective is to minimise those pesky unintended consequences.
@ Triangle Drifter – The problem is that people don’t read and don’t remember. The Wedco plans have been in existence for years.
Interesting how basically these same comments and questions were asked by Marc Bean and he has been blasted left right and center by the bloggers. Yet its ok for BEST.
Talk about double standards and shooting the messenger.
The problem in Marc Bean’s case is that his behaviour and comments have resulted in even his lucid contributions being deemed as tainted. Rightly or wrongly it’s hard to expect different at this stage. The PLP should recognize this.
what is hilarious is that when BEST argued against proposed PLP projects most of the bloggers on here where in total support of BEST now that their is a new government and best who is rightfully doing their job to protect our island natural attributes, the same bloggers are telling them to go lay down..lol. thanks for showing ME that you guys don’t really care about Bermuda, as long as your agenda is fulfilled…im just saying