O'Garro

Montserrat is a volcanic, mountainous island, which belongs to the group of oceanic islands in the eastern Caribbean collectively known as the Lesser Antilles. It has an area of 104 square kilometres (39.6 square miles). The island is situated between latitude 16º14’ and 16º50’ North and longitude 62º10’ and 62º15’ West, or 43 kilometres (27 miles) southwest of Antigua. The island is characterised by narrow coastal lowlands and few beaches. In 1995 volcanic activity began on Montserrat which resulted in approximately two thirds of the island being designated as unsafe for human occupation, this resulted in a reduction in the number of beaches that were available for recreation and other uses.

Coastal stewardship is the ability to manage the beaches in such a way as to ensure sustainability. For beach management to be effective it is essential that all stakeholders be involved in the management process at some level.

Traditionally sand has always been considered a free resource available to all. As a result sand mining has been identified as the major problem for beach management in Montserrat. In 1990 beach-monitoring activities began on Montserrat with the assistance of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States Natural Resources Management Unit. In 1992 the monitoring programme was incorporated into the regional programme, COSALC ‘Beach and Coastal Stability in the Lesser Antilles’. It was recognised from the monitoring results that both Hurricane David in 1979 and Hurricane Hugo in 1989 had resulted in major beach impacts, and that the sand situation in Montserrat had reached crisis proportions.

Between 1990 and 1993 the beaches were seen to recover from the effects of the hurricanes and the general trend was towards beach accretion. By 1994, however, the general trend was once again towards beach erosion, as a result a strategy was devised to control sand mining and conserve what was left of the beaches. One component of the strategy was the closure of all the beaches to sand mining with the exception of one that was little used for recreational purposes.

In an effort to relieve the stress on the consuming public who required sand for construction, a new rock crusher was obtained and crusher dust was made available and sold as a substitute for beach sand. It was also stipulated that no beach sand was to be used in any Government contracts. Complaints from contractors about the suitability of the dust for construction resulted in a number of training sessions being held to expose contractors to modified techniques for making cement with crusher dust. Sand from the beach was only used for the final finishing (plastering) of a building. In order to monitor and mange the removal of sand from the one beach that remained open for mining, a permit system was implemented. Persons wishing to obtain sand for finishing were required to get a permit from the Ministry of Agriculture. The building inspectors ascertained the quantity of sand needed, and a permit was issued based on this estimate. A price was also placed on the beach sand.

An extensive public education programme was carried out to educate civil society on the importance of beaches and the effects that beach erosion would have on the whole island.

Government also highlighted beach littering, although not as serious a problem as sand mining, as an area for intervention. To lessen this problem a user fee was implemented for the utilisation of the beaches for public functions. This fee was returned to the organisers after the beaches were inspected by the Ministry of Agriculture to ensure that all the debris was collected. If the beach was not cleaned to the satisfaction of the inspectors the fee was forfeited and used to pay for the clean up.

A Planning and Development Authority was formed, through which all developmental projects must pass for approval. The Authority ensures that no development is carried out within 100 feet of the high water line and that a complete environmental impact assessment is carried out for any construction over 50 rooms.

With the onset of volcanic activity, two-thirds of the island was rendered unsafe and inaccessible resulting in an urgent need to build new homes. This boom in construction activity contributed to an increase in illegal sand mining activities restarting on the few available beaches. It was obvious therefore, that Montserrat was once again in the position where all efforts must be made to limit the effects of sand mining. Discussions held with stakeholders reiterated the need to have everyone involved in the process in an effort to ensure a collective activity to alleviate the problem. It was decided that the permit system would be reintroduced and that all beaches, with the exception of one, would be closed to sand mining. A new strategy was developed in an effort to further coastal stewardship; this consisted of three main components:

	1.	A public awareness committee would be formed to educate the public as to the importance of beaches.
	2.	Stakeholder meetings to discuss pertinent issues and concerns relating to sand mining would be held regularly.
	3.	A commission would be formed to guide policy decisions as they relate to beach management.

In conclusion, it must be emphasised that community understanding and participation is an essential component of beach management. Education is the only means to change the misconception that the sea is a limitless supply of sand and to ensure that our beaches survive to benefit this generation and the ones to come.

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