The previous National Democratic Party (NDP) government has been lambasted for signing 2 contracts valued $750,000 each for the dredging of the Sea Cows Bay Harbour days before the February 25, 2019 general elections, without even consulting the District Representative. Photo: VINO

Opposition Member and Third District Representative, Honourable Julian Fraser, RA calling for the redirecting of $1.5m being spent on dredging the Sea Cows Bay Harbour into projects that can better serve the people of the Third District. Photo: VINO

Why the Sea Cows Bay Harbour is being dredged remains unknown even to the Third District Representative, Hon Julian Fraser, RA. Photo: VINO

Some 19,000 square yards of mangroves were destroyed in the Sea Cows Bay Harbour during the hurricanes of 2017, according to Third District Representative, Hon Julian Fraser, RA. Photo: VINO

Blasting the previous National Democratic Party (NDP) government for signing 2 contracts valued $750,000 each for the dredging of the Sea Cows Bay Harbour days before the February 25, 2019 general elections, Opposition Member, Honourable Julian Fraser RA, (R3) is calling for the redirecting of $1.5m into projects that can better serve the people of the Third District.

During a community meeting held at Valarie O. Thomas Community Centre in Sea Cows Bay last night, January 30, 2020, Hon Fraser expressed bitterness at not only the $1.5M being expended on the dredging of the Sea Cows Bay Harbour but the fact that mangroves are not being preserved.

“You know the last day the government that was in office… was February 22^nd, that was the Friday, election was February 25^th and depends on who is keeping score we already had elections February 22^nd because we had advanced polls.

“That government signed two contracts on February 22^nd for dredging in Sea Cows Bay Harbour, each contract at $750,000, $1.5 million to do what, I don’t know.”

Remove portion of landfill rather than dredge harbour- Hon Fraser

Hon Fraser said he had absolutely no knowledge about the awarding of the contracts because that courtesy was not extended to him by the past administration.

“I don’t think anybody knows about it because it was done February 22^nd when everyone was busy trying to get re-elected or elected.”

According the veteran politician, following the devastation of the Territory in 2017 by hurricanes Irma and Maria, it was that a portion of landfill near a ghut in a section of the harbour needed to be removed with urgency.

“I had gone to the government and asked them about it and they told me they have no money to do it.”

“It’s only Monday (January 27), Monday just past that I saw the contracts and when I saw them my jaws dropped to know what $750,000 is being spent on two times and I can’t get that stuff removed. I think that urgency requires that that stuff be removed and not the dredging of the harbour.”

Why the dredging?

Hon Fraser further questioned the need for the Sea Cows Bay Harbour to be dredged.

“Who are you dredging it for? Which one of you in this room has a yacht? How many of you are going to benefit from the yachts that are going to be coming in there to park up? None, none.”

He further said that 19,000 square yards of mangroves were destroyed in the harbour; however, “No one is making an effort to replace them.

“Now that affects you and that stuff that’s filled in the harbour up there affects you…. And there is money there to do it,” residents heard from Hon Fraser.

The dredging project of such magnitude being executed in the District without consultation with Hon Fraser, the District Representative, is being seen as disrespect to the Representative and residents.

Hon Fraser made it clear that he has nothing against the persons executing the dredging projects but rather; however, “those contracts need to be redirected into doing the things that are necessary and needed.

“The same people who are dredging the Harbour can be used to pick up the stuff that is there, that’s urgency, that’s the urgency of now for this District,” Hon Fraser argued.