There are a number of comments that keep cropping up about the supposed “benefits” of the mega marina, or the supposedly deteriorated conditions of Coral Bay harbor. The reality is often very different from the myth. Here are some of the more common “myths” and the facts that disprove them:
- “IT’S A DONE DEAL”
- FALSE – ITS NOT EVEN CLOSE
- Permits have been approved at the local level only and even those permits still require approval by the Legislature.
- The Summers End Group (SEG) still must go through federal agencies (Army Corps of Engineers) for marina permits. The permitting process for a project as large and complex as this is a multi-year process, involving reviews and consistency with multiple federal laws, including the Endangered Species Act, the Environmental Protection Act, the Clean Water Act, and others.
- This myth, started by the developers, and spread by people who don’t know the facts, can be very demoralizing. If you hear it, correct it.
- “THE BOATS ARE POLLUTING AND KILLING THE HARBOR”
- FALSE – There are some sunken and derelict boats but the bay is clean. The Coral Bay Community Council (CBCC) has received a grant to remove the derelict boats.
- A complete mooring designation was done with the Department of Planning and Natural Resources (DPNR) to check live aboard boats for functional waste tanks and for mooring permits.
- According to Dr. Sharon Nappier, an Environmental Protection Agency microbiologist with the Office of Water and Office of Science and Technology, Human Health Risk Assessment Branch, her professional interpretation of Coral Harbor bacterial test results are that the harbor is “very clean and meeting our recommended criteria for enterococci [bacteria]”.
- The proposed marina, on the other hand, will pollute the bay and make it unsafe with chemicals used to clean boats.
- “THE MARINA WILL CREATE JOBS”
- FALSE – THERE WILL BE LOSS OF JOBS
- During the first couple years there will be a net LOSS of jobs as the construction forces closure and demolition of existing businesses.
- The initial jobs will simply replace ones that were lost. All work will be highly seasonal and only if the marina proceeds to Phase II will there be any increase in employment at all. Phase II will only be built based on market demand. It might never be built.
- The loss of income from current Coral Bay tourist-dependent businesses will directly impact the job market and the number of jobs claimed to be added to the economy will not make up for the loss.
- “THE MARINA WILL BOOST THE ECONOMY”
- FALSE – THIS PROJECT WILL CAUSE YEARS OF ECONOMIC HARM
- In stark contrast to the $8 million economic benefit claimed by SEG, the reality is the development of this marina will result in an economic loss of more than $115 million during the first five years of its operation.
- This is because the economy of Coral Bay is based almost exclusively on tourism – villa rentals, villa maintenance services, tourist amenities – and when the construction begins with 6-day-a-week pounding noise from pile drivers, construction debris and shop closures, the tourists will quickly stop coming to Coral Bay. Even a small drop in tourism results in a major economic loss. Look here for the detailed economic analysis conducted by the CBCC.
- The Coral Bay economy is healthy, growing, and dependent upon the unique value of a quiet, ecotourism destination. This will be destroyed by this massive construction project. Tourism will rapidly decline, resulting in loss of direct and indirect revenue, loss of tax revenue, and loss of jobs.
- “THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR LOCAL PEOPLE AND LANDOWNERS”
- FALSE – NONE OF THE DEVELOPERS ARE VIRGIN ISLANDERS
- The marina developers are not from the VI. The main financial backers (who will ultimately own the “mortgage” on the project) all come from outside the Virgin Islands.
- According to the Environmental Assessment Report, real estate brokers estimate that if a marina is built, property values could increase 10-20%. That will lead to higher property taxes for local families and residents. Local families are already crippled with home/land tax burdens.
- DPNR entered into a partnership with Summers End for management of the mooring fields without putting a competitive bid out to local people, leaving local people “out of the loop.”
- “THIS IS A CORAL BAY ISSUE ONLY”
- FALSE – THE IMPACTS WILL BE FELT THROUGHOUT ALL OF ST JOHN
- This is an all of St John issue. Our crippling infrastructure: WAPA, potable water, increased traffic on St. John and competing with barge space with additional large trucks needed for this project and our never ending garbage problems effects EVERYONE!!! Our island CANNOT support this mega marina!!!
- When visitors stop coming to Coral Bay, they will stop eating at Cruz Bay restaurants, stop shopping at Cruz Bay stores, and the loss of that business will directly impact all of St John.
- “PEOPLE SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO WHAT THEY WANT WITH THEIR LAND”
- TRUE – BUT THE SUBMERGED LANDS DO NOT BELONG TO ANY INDIVIDUAL
- The lands beneath the sea are the “Trust Lands of the Virgin Islands” and are not owned by ANY individual, regardless whether they own waterfront property or not. These lands are owned by ALL OF US and held in trust by the government. Nobody has a right to use these lands for private purposes unless the government grants that right.
- Any use of Trust Lands must be “in the public interest” – which means it cannot be granted if it only benefits a few.