Wild Tobago

Dr Anjani Ganase, marine scientist, wonders about the wisdom of destroying a protected marine ecosystem, the only one in Trinidad and Tobago, with a strategy to recreate it sometime in the future. She responds to the press conference of the Minister Stuart Young, and representatives of Sandals, the Government’s business partner, which was held on November 26.  “Nature refers to all the animals, plants, rocks, in the world and all the features, forces and processes that happen and exist independently of people , such as the weather, the sea, mountains, the production of young animals or plants, and growth” (Cambridge Dictionary). There is a fundamental misunderstanding of the meaning of nature. Despite humankind’s infiltration into nearly every ecosystem and eco-space on earth, there is need to preserve as much of the natural world. Our air, our climate, our food and everything needed to advance us, comes from nature. With nature comes biodiversity; the number of organisms ...

There are many reasons to be cautious and reconsider the proposed Sandals resort on the “Golden Grove estate,” in fact in any part of Tobago. Leaving aside the obvious top reasons – this kind of accommodation is passé for the nimble experience-driven younger traveller; a 1000-room hotel is at odds with the new brand direction for Tobago as a destination (unspoilt, untouched, undiscovered); and in the time it takes to build we will lose the “unspoilt” – we need to forego this construction project in favour of retaining the habitats that best protect (Southwest) Tobago against climate change. Marine Scientist Dr Anjani Ganase raises an objection on behalf of Tobago. In the face of climate change – which it seems people with temporary tenures like Trump do not need to believe in – we must retain the mangrove ecosystem surrounding Bon Accord Lagoon, to safeguard the structure of the coastline and the marine environment including Buccoo Reef. Otherwise all of Southwest Tobago and the c...

  Two Trinbagonian marine scientists, Jahson Alemu and Anjani Ganase, both PhD candidates, team up to discuss the impacts of the proposed Sandals development on the Buccoo Reef Marine Park. This article first appeared in the Tobago Newsday on Thursday October 6, 2016. Follow them on twitter: @jahson_alemu and @AnjGanase Nestled in the southern Caribbean is the tiny island paradise of Tobago. This idyllic island offers the best features of a Caribbean get away while retaining its unique identity, unexploited by the pressures of large-scale tourism. Tourism is undoubtedly the mainstay of the island and the result has been steady growth and some investment in the industry over the last two decades. In a competitive tourism industry, the TT government is seeking to up the ante by inviting the Sandals Resort chain to Tobago. Sandals is the one of the recognised tourism brands of the Caribbean. Overview of No Man’s Land, Bon Accord Lagoon and Buccoo Reef ...