Tweet
500 truckloads of sand stolen! - A who tief it
500 truckloads of sand stolen!
$8-billion development in jeopardy as beach disappearsDesmond Allen, Executive Editor - Operations allend@jamaicaobserver.com
Thursday, July 17, 2008
What is left after 500 truckloads of sand were removed from this property at Coral Spring, Trelawny.
PRIME Minister Bruce Golding has ordered a probe into the theft of an estimated 500 truckloads of sand from a prime 64-acre property at Coral Spring near Duncans in Trelawny, which now seriously jeopardises a proposed $8-billion beachfront development.
Immediate speculation as to who could want that volume of sand that is said to be of no use to the construction industry, turned to the possibility that the culprits could be in the hotel sector where beaches are an enviable asset.
"We are not yet in a position to finger the thief or thieves but we have our suspicions," a spokesman for the consortium of local and overseas investors told the Observer last night.
The consortium, Felicitas Limited, includes 15 of Jamaica's most successful entrepreneurs who shared a common dream of developing 36 six-star, luxury villas with spa, restaurant, amphitheatre and marina in phase one, that would serve as a catalyst for undeveloped Trelawny.
They include William Mahfood, Andrew Cocking, Andrew Issa, Adam Stewart, Jaime Stewart-McConnell, Donovan Perkins, Andrew Desnoes, Mark McConnell, Mark Mahfood, Tim Latimer and Lloyd Carney. Fredrik Moe, also a shareholder, is managing the project.
Last night, the investors were seething with anger over the illegal removal of the sand.
The beachfront property at Coral Spring in Trelawny before 500 truckloads of sand were removed.
"Only a month ago this was a quarter mile of the most beautiful white sand beach anyone could find in the world, and that is the reason why I invested in the project," William Mahfood was quoted in a statement released by Felicitas' publicists. "I cannot believe the devastation that has occurred; it looks like a mined out quarry!" declared Mahfood.
Added Moe: "Whoever is responsible for the catastrophic environmental nightmare must believe that the laws of the land do not apply to them. I want to assure the people responsible for this devastation that we intend to use every available legal angle; they must be punished. We intend to seek full legal remedies."
The release said that all plans surrounding phase one of the project had come to an abrupt halt because the prime asset of the development had been destroyed, and the extensive high level marketing and promotion plans for the international marketplace had also been put on hold with immediate effect.
Prime Minister Bruce Golding, who was informed at Parliament of the massive theft of sand from the property, instructed his state minister Daryl Vaz to marshall investigations which are to involve the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA), the Mining and Geology Department and the Island Special Constabulary Force (ISCF) - the arm of the police which handles illegal sand-mining in Jamaica.
"The PM saw the pictures showing the place from which the sand was stolen and he was devastated," Vaz said.
"I have asked the state agencies to inspect the sites from which the sand was removed and to which it might have been taken," he said.
The inspection will be conducted by the Mining and Geology Department, although NEPA is the enforcement agency.
The release, which was dispatched to the media prior to Golding's intervention, also charged that while NEPA had been charged with protecting the environment, the developers were disappointed with their reluctance to assist.
It said NEPA's CEO Dr Leary Myers', response when his assistance was sought was to say: "We can't touch this."
Managing director Moe urged anyone with details on the theft of the sand and possible locations to contact the police urgently. He also called on the police and regulatory agencies to act immediately to determine who was responsible for this crime.
$8-billion development in jeopardy as beach disappearsDesmond Allen, Executive Editor - Operations allend@jamaicaobserver.com
Thursday, July 17, 2008
What is left after 500 truckloads of sand were removed from this property at Coral Spring, Trelawny.
PRIME Minister Bruce Golding has ordered a probe into the theft of an estimated 500 truckloads of sand from a prime 64-acre property at Coral Spring near Duncans in Trelawny, which now seriously jeopardises a proposed $8-billion beachfront development.
Immediate speculation as to who could want that volume of sand that is said to be of no use to the construction industry, turned to the possibility that the culprits could be in the hotel sector where beaches are an enviable asset.
"We are not yet in a position to finger the thief or thieves but we have our suspicions," a spokesman for the consortium of local and overseas investors told the Observer last night.
The consortium, Felicitas Limited, includes 15 of Jamaica's most successful entrepreneurs who shared a common dream of developing 36 six-star, luxury villas with spa, restaurant, amphitheatre and marina in phase one, that would serve as a catalyst for undeveloped Trelawny.
They include William Mahfood, Andrew Cocking, Andrew Issa, Adam Stewart, Jaime Stewart-McConnell, Donovan Perkins, Andrew Desnoes, Mark McConnell, Mark Mahfood, Tim Latimer and Lloyd Carney. Fredrik Moe, also a shareholder, is managing the project.
Last night, the investors were seething with anger over the illegal removal of the sand.
The beachfront property at Coral Spring in Trelawny before 500 truckloads of sand were removed."Only a month ago this was a quarter mile of the most beautiful white sand beach anyone could find in the world, and that is the reason why I invested in the project," William Mahfood was quoted in a statement released by Felicitas' publicists. "I cannot believe the devastation that has occurred; it looks like a mined out quarry!" declared Mahfood.
Added Moe: "Whoever is responsible for the catastrophic environmental nightmare must believe that the laws of the land do not apply to them. I want to assure the people responsible for this devastation that we intend to use every available legal angle; they must be punished. We intend to seek full legal remedies."
The release said that all plans surrounding phase one of the project had come to an abrupt halt because the prime asset of the development had been destroyed, and the extensive high level marketing and promotion plans for the international marketplace had also been put on hold with immediate effect.
Prime Minister Bruce Golding, who was informed at Parliament of the massive theft of sand from the property, instructed his state minister Daryl Vaz to marshall investigations which are to involve the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA), the Mining and Geology Department and the Island Special Constabulary Force (ISCF) - the arm of the police which handles illegal sand-mining in Jamaica.
"The PM saw the pictures showing the place from which the sand was stolen and he was devastated," Vaz said.
"I have asked the state agencies to inspect the sites from which the sand was removed and to which it might have been taken," he said.
The inspection will be conducted by the Mining and Geology Department, although NEPA is the enforcement agency.
The release, which was dispatched to the media prior to Golding's intervention, also charged that while NEPA had been charged with protecting the environment, the developers were disappointed with their reluctance to assist.
It said NEPA's CEO Dr Leary Myers', response when his assistance was sought was to say: "We can't touch this."
Managing director Moe urged anyone with details on the theft of the sand and possible locations to contact the police urgently. He also called on the police and regulatory agencies to act immediately to determine who was responsible for this crime.
Paul Marin -19 is one thing, 20 is a whole other matter. It gets even worse if they win the UCL. *groan*. 
05/18/2011.MU fans naah cough, but all a unuh a vomit?-Lazie 1/11/2015
Comment