Government fights erosion at Salt Whistle Bay

By Demion McTair. Updated 9:15 a.m., Friday, August 14, 2020, Atlantic Standard Time (GMT-4).

Kingstown, St. Vincent (ONE NEWS SVG) – A project to respond to coastal erosion at Salt Whistle Bay, Mayreau is taking shape.

Minister responsible for Sustainable Development, Camillo Gonsalves, posted on Facebook today (August 14), “Salt Whistle Bay protection progressing well…”.

Coconut palms replanted and boulders laid at Salt Whistle Bay, Mayreau.

He also posted several photos of the corrective works being conducted.

Salt Whistle Bay, largely regarded as one of the best beaches in the Caribbean was facing violent erosion on the Atlantic side of the bay.

The waters of the Atlantic almost converged with the waters of the Caribbean sea part of the bay as the thin stretch of land separating both almost split in two due to coastal erosion.

The development which has been taking place for years, toppling large coconut trees and washing away vegetation, has been met with numerous attempts to stymie the erosion.

The latest action before the government’s had been that of locals who were using conch shells to backfill the Atlantic side of the bay.

The government, however, cautioned against the stockpiling of conch shells, saying it could make the issue worse.

The government’s intervention on this occasion is characterized by the use of large boulders to create a sea defense and replanting coconut trees.