The residents and tourism stakeholders of Placencia are in a battle against nature to save their only island. The Silk Cayes were once made up of three islands but today, only one remains, and the villagers are determined to save it from being swallowed by erosion.
They've been making plans for a while and over the long weekend, they took action. It culminated in a massive community effort, supported by peninsula businesses and with senior sweat equity from villagers who want to save one of the few remaining islands in the area that isn't private. But things didn't go exactly as planned when the Coast Guard showed up to shut down the Silk Caye saviors.
With the help of PGTV, Courtney Menzies put together a recap of the incident and has this story.
Eworth Garbutt, Tour Guide "We would have had to do a Silk Caye, we will take out the Caye trip, because it will be a Silk trip because no caye will be there."
South Silk Caye is vanishing right before the eyes of the Placencia residents. The island is being swallowed by the sea, just like the two neighbouring islands that used to be there.
And the Placencia residents refuse to just sit and watch it disappear. On Labor Day weekend, they set out in their boats to try and save and lone island by building a break wall around the perimeter to prevent even more erosion. And it was all done with manual labour. They were led by tour guide, Eworth Garbutt.
Eworth Garbutt, Tour Guide/Concerned Resident "This wasn't just a kneejerk approach, we've been doing studies, we've been doing our consultation, but not with the regular game, not the same way. I'll give you a great example, you see the guy down there Jaime, he has spent a lot of time in school. He went all the way to standard 3, so it's been lots of days of his life in school. The engineering skills that he has, combine with the other expert like Mr. Albert and different guys who know what they are doing. We've been consulting, we've been talking and I'll tell you further if you video and see what we have, we have sandbags, that's just to form what we are doing. If you use a blanket to block in the sand, so it doesn't come in and waste whatever you bring goes back into the environment we so depend on. The environmental people give you that you must use it once, one blanket. You know what we did - 4."
Alfredo Acosta, Placencia Resident "This is unity at its best and it shows that as Belizeans we are still united and we could do a lot more together than separate each other and look at this, Placencia is making a statement - all the guys are out, no tour, everybody cancelled they tours for today, everybody is putting in their pound of flesh to save this."
Wendy Lemus, Member, Placencia Village Council "Its hard to even explained about how I feel about this. I am here since yesterday; we want back home to sleep last night and came back this morning. To be honest with you how emotionally I feel looking at all these people working volunteering, nobody is getting pay for this, nobody is being forced to do what we are doing, we all are here volunteering and helping each other and I think whatever we are doing is benefit for everybody."
Ardie Young, Placencia Resident "I am here and also I am the owner of Steam horse Dive Shop, the oldest operating dive shop. This is our livelihood. Nobody helps us, we have to do it ourselves. This is for our children, grandchildren, our great grandchildren. They can't be here, so we have to be here."
But while their efforts were noble, they were, in fact, illegal. And the coast guard came to break it up, stating that they were violating the fisheries law. He spoke to us about it today:
Eworth Garbutt, Tour Guide "I saw the coast guard boat coming - and thought they would have put on glove to and start help, only to know that they were there with a verbal warrant saying that I need to go in, I need to quit this project and go in to Placencia and report to the police station and it was easy at least a hundred plus people there who said no man, if you carry worth, you carry all of us, cause it's a community effort."
Eventually, the coast guard stood down, but it isn't over yet. There may still be charges that Garbutt will have to face as he continues his work to save the last Silk Caye left.
Saving Silk Caye Organizer Faces Charges
And indeed there are charges to face. Eworth Garbutt finished phase one fo the break wall out at Silk Caye this afternoon - and when he arrived back at the peninsula he was told that he should head to the police station to face charges.
Before he did that, he reached out to an attorney and to the media. Here's what he told us via Zoom about finishing with phase one of the project:
Eworth Garbutt, Tour Guide "I finished phase 1, which will be making a brick wall of 135 feet. Its unprecedented and nothing like that ever done in the country and I am assuring you even in the world with zero machine."
Jules Vasquez "They say you are breaking the law and now I understand that you have charges to answer to."
Eworth Garbutt, Tour Guide "Yes sir, never been in my life. I have never seen the coast guard reacted so quick to something yet. We have had infractions going on left and right where people are dredging here and doing other things, but when its for community, all of sudden, because it's us buying the gas maybe they come for us faster, because we are the tax payers. But for me I know what I did, I didn't do anything against the law as far as what I was made to understand - dredging and filling - two different scenario there. Because this thing is so environmentally friendly, we are using the same biodegradable stuff, the old trees, the coconut. If this is what Belize should be like, I am worst that a refugee in my own country. When a state of emergency that my life and lifeline is on the line, I am willing to go as far as it goes."
Jules Vasquez "How do you answer the criticism though that okay, you have all the best intentions, you have excellent community grassroots, even institutional support, but man you can't just do thing on head Tek, studies have to be done, you have to analyse what would be best for the environment. You can't alter nature based on feel-so."
Eworth Garbutt, Tour Guide "This is not a head Tek, but it burns to know that I was going out there not on a kneejerk approach but to save my livelihood. Put yourself in that situation, what would you have done? would you have gone to Belmopan and ask what else would you need. No, you got somebody in an ambulance and the doctor gave you the greenlight and you would ask, are you sure I could cut ahm. Jules this is state of emergency. I live in a country of law and rules and regulations and I have always never violated them and never will. That was never the intention and if I do, this is one time that I am sure that the right head will prevail and won't stop such an initiative, because this is unstoppable. So our last hope and desire to hold to something is that South Silk Caye. SO, while they are doing studies, we have seen the result. Thats the beautiful thing about studies, that's why I use the analysis of someone being on an emergency needing a surgery. We see the next one side of this one already died. The middle silk caye have died and now we have out one coming next from 10 coconut trees, it's at 3 right now. So while they are studying, I am studying what is happening right now. They will study until we die, that's all they will do, study, study and nothing will come out of their study. Its just while they study, we are dying."
Coast Guard Says Silk Caye Brigade Broke The Law
At midday, we got an opportunity to speak with Admiral Elton Bennett in Belmopan. HE'S the head of the Belize Coast Guard, and we asked him about their enforcement mission against the Belizean citizens who wanted to save Silk Caye from further erosion. He explained that they didn't get the required environmental impact assessment:
Admiral Elton Bennett - Commandant, Belize Coast Guard "So, over the weekend we were contacted by the Fisheries Department, on Saturday, the 30th of April, to conduct an operation in support of fisheries at Silk Caye. The mission was to deliver a message to some individuals who were out there, who were doing some ground work at Silk Caye. When we arrived at that location, we found about 25 to 30 persons at that location, with about ten to 12 boats, that location. What we discovered when we arrived was there were some individuals doing some groundwork to prevent further beach erosion. They had materials, construction materials. They had beach sand, they had a cement mixer at that location. And they were prepared to do some reclamation of the beach. We delivered that message on behalf of the fisheries department, and we advise them to cease what we are doing. Those individuals continued. They expressed the urgent need of getting that beach in a position where it would further deteriorate or further erode. And we did what we could have done on that day. The following day, the crowd increased. We had somewhere around 200 persons on the island, working on that initiative to prevent further beach erosion. We attempted to arrest those individuals. From what I gather from the patrol command on the ground, it could have escalated into a situation that we did not want. The patrol commander was very smart in terms of dialoguing with those individuals and dragging that process out. So following on from there, we arrested and charged two individuals who were there at that location. And that occurred in Placencia yesterday. So, the Fisheries Department will now follow through, in terms of prosecuting those cases against those individuals that were in violation."
We also asked about the enforcement of the law in the context of the good intentions of this community effort. Here's what the Commandant of the Coast Guard said:
Daniel Ortiz "I see the point that is being made that they did. They flouted an important environmental aspect of the Fisheries Act. But right-thinking Belizeans may observe that and say 'Look, the principle that they're trying to put into practice is what is important as well.' This beachfront, like all other coastal areas of the country, continues to degrade on a daily basis due to erosion. And nobody seems to be doing anything to try to arrest it. They went to try to do something."
Admiral Elton Bennett - Commandant, Belize Coast Guard "I know that the Silk Caye Marine Reserve is very very important for Belize, in terms of tourism, in terms of fisheries, and in terms of just maintaining a pristine marine environment for Belizeans. And I am aware that the Fisheries Department and the Blue Economy [ Ministry] are very interested in doing some work on the island. They just want to ensure that what material goes out there does not impact or throw off the ecosystem, and that level of work done on the island is done properly in terms of getting an Environmental Impact Assessment done. So, you can know what type of material, and where best to put those materials. So that's the procedure that We want to follow."
And while the Coast Guard and the relevant authorities say it's about the law - Garbutt says it's also about turf and money of "the experts":
Eworth Garbutt, Tour Guide "This thing is so scary, I think a lot of people feel threatened because imagine what takes you to do in 10 years with millions of dollars, this community will end up doing it in 2 weekends. We have done half way through in one weekend and we are not asking the government for a dollar. How could you compare quality a product if you give a contract two different person, one for profit and one because you life depend on it, not to play like your life depend on it, one for your life depend on it, all chips are in for this job to get it right. When it comes to the standard of that break wall is, it wasn't bypassed, any dollar wasn't cut. We actually went - they say they need the Geotech, it's like a blanket, instead of putting one, we put 4."
Residents of Placencia Village are reclaiming Silk Caye. The island has been quickly deteriorating and what is left today is only a small portion of its former self. Silk Caye is at risk of disappearing and with that the economic benefits it offers to tour guides from Placencia. Over the weekend, a team of villagers, including tour guides and business owners, headed out to the island to begin the restoration process. On Saturday, a rock wall was built with sand bags behind it, utilizing five thousand sand bags all moved by hand. News Five spoke with Justin Linarez, the Director of Go Sea Tours, who told us that the community's goal is to make the island twice its original size.
Justin Linarez, Director, Go Sea Tours
"This initiative was spearheaded by Mr. Eworth Garbutt. I would say about a month and a half ago he started with a petition to get some signatures from villagers so that we could proceed with the reclamation of Silk Caye. As I shared with you a few months back, Silk Caye has been eroding very fast and it puts at risk a lot of tour operators losing business, going out there, and that is the most popular snorkeling and scuba diving spot actually. Mister Eworth went around the community, got all the tour operators involved. I can say for sure, at least over eight tour operators were there this weekend, using their resources, their workers, and their time in order to get this done. He is the person that lobbied to get financing for the project, then the villagers and stakeholders put in the man power to get that started the main stuff we needed was sand, which we had thousands of bags of sand. We still have sand on the town right now that we are trying to get out to the island because that initiative is still going on as we speak. We have some coconut trees which we replanted on the area. That was an idea again by Mr. Garbutt. I believe that was one of the better things we did because we need to keep the sand compact in that area. Beside sand, rock, concrete, we also got a big hand from the guys over at Lowens who transported most of that material on their barge. They had two barges in the area along with a tuck that was pushing the bigger barge. We also had an excavator on that barge that offloaded the rocks in order for us to build a very strong sea wall. It was a very huge and costly project, but with the community coming together, everyone putting their piece, I think we will have a very nice silk Caye moving forward."
Unauthorized Developments within Gladden Spit and Silk Cayes Marine Reserve
On April 29, 2022, the Ministry of Blue Economy and Civil Aviation through its Fisheries Department was made aware of planned land reclamation activities on South Silk Caye by residents of the Placencia Peninsula. The island is located within the Conservation Zone of the Gladden Spit and Silk Cayes Marine Reserve (GSSCMR), a marine protected area, under the mandate of the Fisheries Department which is presently co-managed by the Southern Environmental Association (SEA).
The Department was informed that the activities would occur over the weekend (April 30 & May 1, 2022). Despite efforts by the Fisheries Department Enforcement Officers and the Coast Guard to stop the process from continuing without proper authorization, the organizers refused to cease the work and continued regardless of these enforcement cautions and interventions.
The Fisheries Department hereby emphatically expresses its concern over the activities that transpired. Fully cognizant of the urgent actions needed to counter the impacts of climate change to this and other islands within the Marine Protected Areas Systems, the department has been working with its co-managers to address these threats in a manner that is strategic and environmentally safe.
This most recent case is of special concern because the site being altered is within a high biodiversity Conservation Zone where only non-extractive use is allowed. Furthermore, any activity to be conducted within a marine reserve requires a license or authorization in accordance with Sub-Sections 15 (1) (b), (c), (d) and Section 16 of the Fisheries Resources Act, Revised Edition, 2020 (Documents - Fisheries Department). The Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations also requires that for Schedule I projects such as the above, an Environmental Impact Assessment be completed.
While the Ministry of Blue Economy and Civil Aviation and by extension its Fisheries Department applauds the efforts of the community to be involved in addressing the erosion problems of the island, these actions must be carried out in coordination and with the authorization of the relevant departments as per existing regulatory guidelines and legislation.
The Ministry of Blue Economy and Civil Aviation will continue to remind the public that it is an offense to engage in any activity within a Marine Protected Area without the proper and required authorization of the Fisheries Department and the Department of the Environment. Any persons found in contravention will be dealt with accordingly.
The Ministry and the Fisheries Department will be engaging the co-manager of the marine reserve as well as the community leaders to seek the most expeditious but legally valid approach in addressing the issue of non-compliance and moving forward with the completion of the restoration works.
Organizers of South Silk Caye Reclamation Exercise in Hot Water with Authorities Situated within the conservation zone of the Gladden Spit and Silk Cayes Marine Reserve, South Silk Caye is rapidly deteriorating due to erosion. Last night, we told you about one community's efforts to reclaim the island. Now, the organizers of the reclamation exercise are being accused of running afoul of the law by not acquiring the necessary license and authorization to conduct such activities within a marine reserve. Today, both the Southern Environmental Association and the Ministry of Blue Economy and Civil Aviation acknowledged via press release the rapid deterioration of South Silk Caye, while highlighting the need for restoration work to take place in accordance with the law and based on scientific data.
Minister says Silk Caye Effort Admirable But Misguided
And onto environmental news, on Tuesday we told you that the Placencia
residents headed out to South Silk Caye over the long weekend to try
and build a break wall that would hopefully prevent the island from
eroding more than it already had. But the Fisheries Department advised
the public that these types of activities cannot be carried out without
the proper permits and environmental assessments.
And today, the Minister of Sustainable Development reiterated that. He
first applauded the residents for what they did but noted that it could
have been done in a way that's safer for the environment. He also added
that there had been efforts to save the island from back in 2019:
Hon. Orlando Habet - Minister of Sustainable Development
"I think I read an article where 2019 they had already commenced
efforts to do work, PACT has also assisted but between 2019 to now it
doesn't seem as though much was done because you can see there is a lot
more erosion. So, I can see the concern from the communities and their
effort to do something. I think where things went wrong is they did not
consult with the authorities, fisheries, department of environment to
see if the methods they were going to use are the right methods. So, I
might go there and I might say put a bag of sand to stop the wave,
maybe that's not the right way and what seems was these bags of sand, I
understand that the material used was foreign material to the area, you
start losing that biodiversity of those materials that are originally
from there. Two, they were bagged in plastic bags which will under the
sun and sea water will deteriorate fast and cause micro plastics to go
into the ocean which is something that we don't want. So, whether it
was a wall that was to be built, whether it is a small artificial reef
or something, so if they had consulted, maybe we would have come to an
agreement as what best to do."
Reporter
"Major point that they brought up is that usually in situations like
these you have a lot of conservation and it takes time and during this
time the island is being eroded and so they felt like they didn't have
time, we have to act now, we can't wait for the environmental impact
assessment and all of those things to happen. What would you say to
that?"
Hon. Orlando Habet
"Like I said, there was an effort in 2019 to now and you can't tell me
you didn't do something between 2019 and 2022, so it wasn't an
overnight thing, indeed it wasn't, so maybe one more day or two more
days wouldn't have been much of a difference if they had consulted with
the authorities."
Last week, South Silk Caye made headlines after an attempt to save it went haywire. Dozens of residents from Placencia headed out there to try and build a break wall, only to be stopped by the Coast Guard, who threatened to arrest the group's leader, Eworth Garbutt.
Since then, both the Minister of Sustainable Development and the Fisheries Department have emphasized that while the initiative was to be applauded, it shouldn't have been done in that manner. According to them, it would have been better for the environment if they had gone through the proper procedures.
But the tourism stakeholders whose livelihoods depend on that Caye aren't having it. And this weekend, they went out again on a more educational visit. They were joined by the area rep of Stann Creek West, Rodwell Ferguson, as well as the chairlady of Placencia and Vice Chairman of Seine Bight, all of whom supported the initiative.
Hon. Rodwell Ferguson, Area Rep., Stann Creek West "I reached here this morning, maybe about a quarter to nine, and I see what has materialised over a period of years, and last week you all tried to attempt to figure how you can fix it. That was a good initiative because what you did, you got the awareness of the government, to say, government, you need to do something urgently. So when I went to Cabinet last week, I told Cabinet that this is an urgent matter and the Minister of the Blue Economy, Andre Perez, was instructed to meet with you guys quickly and figure how we can proceed so I go back to Cabinet on Monday and I will tell them this is my second time I'm going to Cabinet again, please address the situation quickly."
"When I realised the amount of tour operators and tour guides who used this spot on a daily basis, it is significant and so we have to restore back Silk Caye to the livelihoods of our tour guides."
Ilsa Villanueva, Chairlady, Placencia "If we do a survey of most hotels, they would tell you that 90% of their guests want to come to Silk Caye and imagine years ago it looked beautiful. So Placencia Village Council really supports the efforts and all of us couldn't be here last week, but we're here today to show support here."
Kirwin Ramirez, Vice Chairman, Seine Bight "This is our island and the only way we can take care of this is if we all come together and unite and make a change. I saw this on pictures and I was blessed to see that not only people from Placencia but people from all over, they care about this island, they're able to come here today and last week and they don't talk, they make action, and that's what we need to do, less talking and more action."
And in a weekend joint release by the Fisheries Department and Southern Environment Association - who are the co-managers of Gladden Spit and Silk Cayes Marine Reserve, they applauded the interest that has been displayed regarding the erosion of South Silk Caye. They acknowledge the coastal erosion affecting South Silk Caye and the other coastal parts of the country and believe in joining together to, quote, "pursue a course of action that will bring collaboration and a direction that is environmentally sound, people-powered and in accordance with the law; we can derive results that can be positive and holistic in its benefits." End quote.
As such, they will be hosting a meeting with all the relevant parties to develop and agree on the way forward. Details of this meeting will be announced at a later date.
For two weeks now we've been reporting on the situation at Silk Caye - where scores of ordinary residents and business owners from the communities along the Placencia Peninsula pooled their resources and people power to make a dramatic restoration to the fast eroding south Silk Caye.
But, in their zeal to save the sinking Caye - they ran multiple environmental red lights.
A release from the Fisheries Department on the weekend asked all parties involved to, quote "cease and desist from any unauthorized activities and allow this matter to be resolved jointly."
The ministry today called the community leaders from Seine Bight, Placencia, and Monkey River to a meeting at the Fisheries Department in Belize City. We were there when it finished and saw all smiles:
Eworth Garbutt, Tour guide "I think the Belizean people smile today and for sure I must applaud CEO Kennedy from the Blue Economy and Minister of the Blue Economy. Everybody is here for one thing, to make Belize better, not just for me, but for us and everybody and togetherness we go well further. The room was full of all positive energy. Really it's a bless day for Belize."
Ilsa Villanueva, Chairlady, Placencia "It was a really awesome meeting, I feel good. It's one of the meeting I've ever done with government in all my 12 years that came out with a result as quick as possible that will keep all of us happy and we are joyful, its awesome (smiling)"
Jose Aleman, Chairman, Seine Bight "Very good meeting. Like Mr. Garbutt said you could see the smiles on our faces. I was glad to be a part of this initiative to support the motion of the people on Placencia Peninsula to an extension, the coastal communities; Hopkins and Monkey River as well. We are very much impress and happy that the government is in support of the development and the livelihood of our local fishermen and tour guides."
Leonardo, Castro, Chairman, Monkey River "We got what we wanted, we want Belize to continue develop and want more stuff like this to happen. One of the main things I was happy about in the meeting today is that they mentioned Monkey River and erosion in Monkey River and its one thing they want to look after and I applaud the effort."
Eworth Garbutt, Tour guide "Today is unprecedented day where you combine science with common sense and when you put either one first, you get common science or science that is common. They gave myself the time to explain what we have done, which was I think fair and balance instead of just criticizing a sand bag operation and the government did the right motion. We are going to continue Silk Caye, so I am appealing to the general public and to the world this will be so environmentally sound, that we are going to make an unprecedented finish and it's going to be done in 2 weeks in our projection."
Jules Vasquez "The release from the government was saying this is a protected area, you need an environmental impact assessment, you need to go through all the procedures, but what you are saying right now is that the community-lead effort and the common-sense science that you all have been using has been upheld by the CEO in this meeting?"
Eworth Garbutt, Tour guide "Oh, definitely. And not loosely, because we have done our homework. We have done consultant, so to go further did a task force which I am a part of and come Monday they are going down there, do a site visit and the following weekend will go ahead with the supervision at their presence. We will combine the two and this is a done deal."
Ilsa Villanueva, Chairlady, Placencia "Within the next 3 weeks Eworth will continue the work he and the other members have been doing and then develop a long-term plan, because it's not just a fix for now, but it's a fix for the future and yes you alluded to the EIA permits, they are going to help with that, they are going to make it easier for us. So, all of it is not on us, but they are going to help us."
Jose Aleman, Chairman, Seine Bight "So, I can assure you that an environmental clearance will be retrieve, likewise the technical experts will be out there to assist us to ensure that this project is done in a sound and environmentally manner that it does not harm any flora and fauna to that extent."
Leonardo, Castro, Chairman, Monkey River "Instead of stopping the effort, they continue with the effort at Silk Caye and this is something we've been wanting for such a long time in Monkey River. I mean I like how they move fast to fix. They are doing a short-term project to fix it and then a long-term project so we could have Silk Caye for a very long time and that is what we want in Monkey River - that's all we've been asking for years."
Jules Vasquez "For a minute there Eworth, you were an outlaw, you were a man who had charges waiting on you, which I know is not how you have lived your life, but you've gone from an outlaw to a trailblazer, if I am to understand the outcome of this meeting."
Eworth Garbutt, Tour guide "I don't know if they should use that word "Eworth", because is Eworth is just a skeleton side of giants. These people have come out, I mean, ladies with the longest, prettiest nails, children who are in maybe standard 2 - they are the champions, not Eworth. I only spark something that was so ready to fire up. It's a great thing to be a Belizean."
And while the effort's leader Eworth Garbutt has been vindicated - the road ahead may not be as simple as one would hope. The technicians have to get involved - but they must now join the community's effort and not the other way around. We spoke to the Minister about science versus appeasement:
Hon. Andre Perez, Minister of the Blue Economy "It's not only about government, its more than that. It has to be collaborative effort and it's called for the direct involvement of the people of this country, the community and ofcourse all the other partners are involved as well, the NGO's and all the different organizations. So putting all of these together, but making clear that it is the ministry of blue economy that leads and in there we have all the expertise that we can offer and we are not here to be pointing fingers, accusing what they have done wrong - we are not that bad mom that want to go and spank her kids, because they want to go and behave bad. We need to fix things and that is what we sat down and had a very fruitful discussion where everybody had an input and that basically what we came out with. It's a win win for all."
"Basically, two things came out here; 1) is that we have to have remedial action taken to alleviate the problem. We agree also that to fix or whatever we need to do to restore Silk Caye, it cannot be done overnight, it cannot be done over a weekend and we while we appreciate the nobel gesture of the community, there are ways and methods of how to do it. Like how someone said, the surgery on the island has already been done, so we can't leave it open, so we are going to do something together - we have some plans already for this week. We have the assortment team going there this week, so we are on the ground already and I think that is a win-win situation, but the most important thing is that I started off the meeting by saying we have a common ground. Common ground means that to make clear that the Blue Economy is not against what they are doing. We are supporting it and the gesture and the efforts that the community is doing must be recognized."
Jules Vasquez "Are you all putting science or political appeasement first?"
Hon. Andre Perez, Minister of the Blue Economy "First of all, there is no political appeasement, we are applying science."
Reporter "What Mr. Eworth and his team are doing, will that change based on what you guys believe is the best thing to put in place?"
Hon. Andre Perez "It will continue, but with the guidance and the technical advice of our ministry and also taking into consideration the department of the environment in the ministry of sustainable development, so we are all putting it together, so when we move forward is because we are doing compliance."
Jules Vasquez "There is the irresistible social logic that when the community stands up, politicians have to find a way to listen."
Hon. Andre Perez "There wasn't a kneejerk reaction. What we did there was weeks of planning to see how we can deal with this, so by the time we sat down we had answered most of the questions that were coming. We were ready. So, it's working along. We are not looking at communities making noise and run to them, it is about getting them involved."
Jules Vasquez "Are you concern that precedent is being set that other communities which are facing this kind of erosion will say, hear what while they are right, we have to go out there and fight to preserve our community."
Hon. Andre Perez "No, we made that clear. As I said our country are governed by laws and our community that we met with accepted that - that they did some wrong and that is going to send a message out there that we will not accept that."
Garbutt says they plan to have a ceremony commemorating the community effort at Silk Caye in 10 days.
Silk Caye - it's a community effort to save an island that turned into a concerted conservation effort with the government and NGO's on board. It started on the labour day weekend with a big community push and now, two and a half months later - it's all finished -with even a turtle nest to boot, proving that the beach is indeed back.
Via Zoom this afternoon we spoke to tour guide and island re-builder Eworth Garbutt who told us why he fought so hard to save Silk Caye, an island he calls the Hol Chan of the south:
Garbutt also told us that while he faced detractors in his shoring up of Silk Caye he'd do it again no matter what the consequences.
Tonight, the news from the south is that the once eroding island of Silk Caye has been newly inaugurated.
That's after two months of rebuilding efforts by the residents of the nearby Placencia peninsula.
On Saturday our news team made the 4-hour journey to the island to see it in all its sunny, sandy splendour. Here's that story:
Silk Caye is back! The once eroding island looked positively solid against the waves and the sea breeze.
So solid, that it's crazy to think that South silk Caye owes its very existence to Eworth Garbutt and the group of Placencia residents who refused to let it drift off into the depths.
Eworth Garbutt, Lead rebuild team "A lot of things have changed, islands I never see erode, they erode and so when I see Silk Caye going the way it was and it's our last hope. I think coming out here you see many islands, 99% of those islands is not owned by you and me. They are owned by foreigners and we invite and welcomed foreigners, that's a nice thing, but don't you think we have to own something? This island is more than just tourism. You know that every birthday my little girl's birthday is the 6th, so we came out. Instead of having a birthday party, this is our birthday party. This is our heritage. The next one over there my son does enjoy that when he was young. That was his birthday spot, but it is gone. So we cannot allow another spot like this. Tourism is great, but a lot of people who doesn't do it, think that things are only for tourist. Even the turtle came up and lay their eggs. That touch every part of my heart and soul."
And Eworth has managed to touch people from all walks of life with his mission for this Caye going all the way to Cabinet.
Rodwell Ferguson, Minister of Youth, Sports and Transport "Without government assistance and so I told them that you might not have the money now to restore Silk Caye, but people already start it and all we need is your support and so cabinet agreed and ask me to arrange a meeting with the minister of the Blue Economy along with Eworth and his team. It was arranged one week after in Belize City and we all went there and the support from the Ministry of the Blue Economy and the CEO was extremely amazing."
And if you ask the crowd what's amazing is the teamwork, and the many small parts that dozens of. Placencians played to accomplish Eworth's mission. Placencia like Wendy Lemus.
Wendy Lemus, Owner, Wendy's Creole Restaurant "The love I feel for our country our community and this island also you know benefits everyone. I work in the tourism section so this actually benefits us."
"He was only asking me to help him with some food and whatever I can to bring people and to help and the day I drop off the food by the marina, I didn't want just to drop the food off. Immediately I change my mind and I say I want to go, back rocks. He always teased me about my nails, all I care about was to finish the work and save the island."
And it wasn't just the adults that saved the island. We spoke to two young men who brought out their paddle board and built the island's new rock walls with their bare hands.
Participant, Helped rebuild Silk CAye "It feels like a way different Island, like this was water that we were on."
Kevin Westby, Helped rebuild Silk Caye "We brough back the island from a small sand pile into a big island and now people will get to see it."
Still no major story is without its conflict and for this small group that conflict came when the Coast Guard tried to shut them down:
Participant, Helped rebuild Silk CAye "The coast guard was coming out here and they wanted to take Eworth to jail, but then all of us were yelling that if they took Eworth, they will have to take all of us."
Luckily, it didn't come to that. And on Saturday the minister of Home affairs who made the boat trip out to Silk Caye told us that the near arrest was just procedural.
Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs "Any sort of reclaiming or dredging or filling of any land does require approval in advance, but like I said this was a purely people initiative, everybody coming together and say we will do this, we dont need to get our permits because we want to save Silk Caye and that's wonderful, but there is a process and I think the coast guard that came out that day was just to clarify what exactly is happening. There was no huge operation in terms of a dredge coming to dredge material and so I think they realize that what they were doing is very sustainable, the way that they are restoring Silk Caye is a very sustainable way, so ofcourse there are those initial reactions whenever reclaiming is taking place, but I think once that was done and even cabinet took a decision and said we have to support this type of people power movement."
And in the end Silk Caye is as much heritage as it is a commodity, Placencia's chairman says the island that the villagers re-built will continue to sustain the village for a long time to come.
Warren Garbutt, Chairman, Placencia "Placencia is definitely growing as a destination, a lot more visitors and these islands do have carrying capacities. We have a lot of people out here today, but in the high season, in December, January, in April, May we get a lot of foreign visitors and we definitely need some more spaces that we can accommodate all these guests."
Eworth and the team now have their eye on restoring middle silk Caye but before they can do that they'll have to determine whether the island turned sandbar is privately owned.
Silk Caye salvation, it's one of our favourite stories of the last year.
The concerted community effort was made by Placencia villagers to save the fast eroding Silk Caye. And back in July, our News team made the trip down south to see the newly resurrected Silk Caye - brought up from under the water lien using a commonsensical, community funded and organized effort.
Here's a look back at that story.
Silk Caye is back! The once eroding island looked positively solid against the waves and the sea breeze.
So solid, that it's crazy to think that South silk Caye owes its very existence to Eworth Garbutt and the group of Placencia residents who refused to let it drift off into the depths.
Eworth Garbutt, Lead rebuild team "A lot of things have changed, islands I never see erode, they erode and so when I see Silk Caye going the way it was and it's our last hope. I think coming out here you see many islands, 99% of those islands is not owned by you and me. They are owned by foreigners and we invite and welcomed foreigners, that's a nice thing, but don't you think we have to own something? This island is more than just tourism. You know that every birthday my little girl's birthday is the 6th, so we came out. Instead of having a birthday party, this is our birthday party. This is our heritage. The next one over there my son does enjoy that when he was young. That was his birthday spot, but it is gone. So we cannot allow another spot like this. Tourism is great, but a lot of people who doesn't do it, think that things are only for tourist. Even the turtle came up and lay their eggs. That touch every part of my heart and soul."
And Eworth has managed to touch people from all walks of life with his mission for this Caye going all the way to Cabinet.
Rodwell Ferguson, Minister of Youth, Sports and Transport "Without government assistance and so I told them that you might not have the money now to restore Silk Caye, but people already start it and all we need is your support and so cabinet agreed and ask me to arrange a meeting with the minister of the Blue Economy along with Eworth and his team. It was arranged one week after in Belize City and we all went there and the support from the Ministry of the Blue Economy and the CEO was extremely amazing."
And if you ask the crowd what's amazing is the teamwork, and the many small parts that dozens of. Placencians played to accomplish Eworth's mission. Placencia like Wendy Lemus.
Wendy Lemus, Owner, Wendy's Creole Restaurant "The love I feel for our country our community and this island also you know benefits everyone. I work in the tourism section so this actually benefits us."
"He was only asking me to help him with some food and whatever I can to bring people and to help and the day I drop off the food by the marina, I didn't want just to drop the food off. Immediately I change my mind and I say I want to go, back rocks. He always teased me about my nails, all I care about was to finish the work and save the island."
And it wasn't just the adults that saved the island. We spoke to two young men who brought out their paddle board and built the island's new rock walls with their bare hands.
Participant, Helped rebuild Silk CAye "It feels like a way different Island, like this was water that we were on."
Kevin Westby, Helped rebuild Silk Caye "We brough back the island from a small sand pile into a big island and now people will get to see it."
Still no major story is without its conflict and for this small group that conflict came when the Coast Guard tried to shut them down:
Participant, Helped rebuild Silk CAye "The coast guard was coming out here and they wanted to take Eworth to jail, but then all of us were yelling that if they took Eworth, they will have to take all of us."
Luckily, it didn't come to that. And on Saturday the minister of Home affairs who made the boat trip out to Silk Caye told us that the near arrest was just procedural.
Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs "Any sort of reclaiming or dredging or filling of any land does require approval in advance, but like I said this was a purely people initiative, everybody coming together and say we will do this, we dont need to get our permits because we want to save Silk Caye and that's wonderful, but there is a process and I think the coast guard that came out that day was just to clarify what exactly is happening. There was no huge operation in terms of a dredge coming to dredge material and so I think they realize that what they were doing is very sustainable, the way that they are restoring Silk Caye is a very sustainable way, so ofcourse there are those initial reactions whenever reclaiming is taking place, but I think once that was done and even cabinet took a decision and said we have to support this type of people power movement."
And in the end Silk Caye is as much heritage as it is a commodity, Placencia's chairman says the island that the villagers re-built will continue to sustain the village for a long time to come.
Warren Garbutt, Chairman, Placencia "Placencia is definitely growing as a destination, a lot more visitors and these islands do have carrying capacities. We have a lot of people out here today, but in the high season, in December, January, in April, May we get a lot of foreign visitors and we definitely need some more spaces that we can accommodate all these guests."
Eworth and the team still have their eye on restoring Middle Silk Caye but before they can do that, they'll have to determine whether the island-turned sandbar is privately owned.
The opinions and views expressed on this board are the subjective opinions of Ambergris Caye Message Board members and not of the Ambergris Caye Message Board its affiliates, or its employees.
AmbergrisCaye.com 
The residents and tourism stakeholders of Placencia are in a battle against nature to save their only island. The Silk Cayes were once made up of three islands but today, only one remains, and the villagers are determined to save it from being swallowed by erosion.
"We would have had to do a Silk Caye, we will take out the Caye trip, because it will be a Silk trip because no caye will be there."
"This wasn't just a kneejerk approach, we've been doing studies, we've been doing our consultation, but not with the regular game, not the same way. I'll give you a great example, you see the guy down there Jaime, he has spent a lot of time in school. He went all the way to standard 3, so it's been lots of days of his life in school. The engineering skills that he has, combine with the other expert like Mr. Albert and different guys who know what they are doing. We've been consulting, we've been talking and I'll tell you further if you video and see what we have, we have sandbags, that's just to form what we are doing. If you use a blanket to block in the sand, so it doesn't come in and waste whatever you bring goes back into the environment we so depend on. The environmental people give you that you must use it once, one blanket. You know what we did - 4."
"This is unity at its best and it shows that as Belizeans we are still united and we could do a lot more together than separate each other and look at this, Placencia is making a statement - all the guys are out, no tour, everybody cancelled they tours for today, everybody is putting in their pound of flesh to save this."
"Its hard to even explained about how I feel about this. I am here since yesterday; we want back home to sleep last night and came back this morning. To be honest with you how emotionally I feel looking at all these people working volunteering, nobody is getting pay for this, nobody is being forced to do what we are doing, we all are here volunteering and helping each other and I think whatever we are doing is benefit for everybody."
"I am here and also I am the owner of Steam horse Dive Shop, the oldest operating dive shop. This is our livelihood. Nobody helps us, we have to do it ourselves. This is for our children, grandchildren, our great grandchildren. They can't be here, so we have to be here."
And indeed there are charges to face. Eworth Garbutt finished phase one fo the break wall out at Silk Caye this afternoon - and when he arrived back at the peninsula he was told that he should head to the police station to face charges.
At midday, we got an opportunity to speak with Admiral Elton Bennett in Belmopan. HE'S the head of the Belize Coast Guard, and we asked him about their enforcement mission against the Belizean citizens who wanted to save Silk Caye from further erosion. He explained that they didn't get the required environmental impact assessment:
"So, over the weekend we were contacted by the Fisheries Department, on Saturday, the 30th of April, to conduct an operation in support of fisheries at Silk Caye. The mission was to deliver a message to some individuals who were out there, who were doing some ground work at Silk Caye. When we arrived at that location, we found about 25 to 30 persons at that location, with about ten to 12 boats, that location. What we discovered when we arrived was there were some individuals doing some groundwork to prevent further beach erosion. They had materials, construction materials. They had beach sand, they had a cement mixer at that location. And they were prepared to do some reclamation of the beach. We delivered that message on behalf of the fisheries department, and we advise them to cease what we are doing. Those individuals continued. They expressed the urgent need of getting that beach in a position where it would further deteriorate or further erode. And we did what we could have done on that day. The following day, the crowd increased. We had somewhere around 200 persons on the island, working on that initiative to prevent further beach erosion. We attempted to arrest those individuals. From what I gather from the patrol command on the ground, it could have escalated into a situation that we did not want. The patrol commander was very smart in terms of dialoguing with those individuals and dragging that process out. So following on from there, we arrested and charged two individuals who were there at that location. And that occurred in Placencia yesterday. So, the Fisheries Department will now follow through, in terms of prosecuting those cases against those individuals that were in violation."
Hon. Orlando Habet - Minister of Sustainable Development
Last week, South Silk Caye made headlines after an attempt to save it went haywire. Dozens of residents from Placencia headed out there to try and build a break wall, only to be stopped by the Coast Guard, who threatened to arrest the group's leader, Eworth Garbutt.
"I reached here this morning, maybe about a quarter to nine, and I see what has materialised over a period of years, and last week you all tried to attempt to figure how you can fix it. That was a good initiative because what you did, you got the awareness of the government, to say, government, you need to do something urgently. So when I went to Cabinet last week, I told Cabinet that this is an urgent matter and the Minister of the Blue Economy, Andre Perez, was instructed to meet with you guys quickly and figure how we can proceed so I go back to Cabinet on Monday and I will tell them this is my second time I'm going to Cabinet again, please address the situation quickly."
Ilsa Villanueva, Chairlady, Placencia
"This is our island and the only way we can take care of this is if we all come together and unite and make a change. I saw this on pictures and I was blessed to see that not only people from Placencia but people from all over, they care about this island, they're able to come here today and last week and they don't talk, they make action, and that's what we need to do, less talking and more action."
"I think the Belizean people smile today and for sure I must applaud CEO Kennedy from the Blue Economy and Minister of the Blue Economy. Everybody is here for one thing, to make Belize better, not just for me, but for us and everybody and togetherness we go well further. The room was full of all positive energy. Really it's a bless day for Belize."
"It was a really awesome meeting, I feel good. It's one of the meeting I've ever done with government in all my 12 years that came out with a result as quick as possible that will keep all of us happy and we are joyful, its awesome (smiling)"
"Very good meeting. Like Mr. Garbutt said you could see the smiles on our faces. I was glad to be a part of this initiative to support the motion of the people on Placencia Peninsula to an extension, the coastal communities; Hopkins and Monkey River as well. We are very much impress and happy that the government is in support of the development and the livelihood of our local fishermen and tour guides."
"We got what we wanted, we want Belize to continue develop and want more stuff like this to happen. One of the main things I was happy about in the meeting today is that they mentioned Monkey River and erosion in Monkey River and its one thing they want to look after and I applaud the effort."
"It's not only about government, its more than that. It has to be collaborative effort and it's called for the direct involvement of the people of this country, the community and ofcourse all the other partners are involved as well, the NGO's and all the different organizations. So putting all of these together, but making clear that it is the ministry of blue economy that leads and in there we have all the expertise that we can offer and we are not here to be pointing fingers, accusing what they have done wrong - we are not that bad mom that want to go and spank her kids, because they want to go and behave bad. We need to fix things and that is what we sat down and had a very fruitful discussion where everybody had an input and that basically what we came out with. It's a win win for all."
Tonight, the news from the south is that the once eroding island of Silk Caye has been newly inaugurated.
"A lot of things have changed, islands I never see erode, they erode and so when I see Silk Caye going the way it was and it's our last hope. I think coming out here you see many islands, 99% of those islands is not owned by you and me. They are owned by foreigners and we invite and welcomed foreigners, that's a nice thing, but don't you think we have to own something? This island is more than just tourism. You know that every birthday my little girl's birthday is the 6th, so we came out. Instead of having a birthday party, this is our birthday party. This is our heritage. The next one over there my son does enjoy that when he was young. That was his birthday spot, but it is gone. So we cannot allow another spot like this. Tourism is great, but a lot of people who doesn't do it, think that things are only for tourist. Even the turtle came up and lay their eggs. That touch every part of my heart and soul."
"Without government assistance and so I told them that you might not have the money now to restore Silk Caye, but people already start it and all we need is your support and so cabinet agreed and ask me to arrange a meeting with the minister of the Blue Economy along with Eworth and his team. It was arranged one week after in Belize City and we all went there and the support from the Ministry of the Blue Economy and the CEO was extremely amazing."
"The love I feel for our country our community and this island also you know benefits everyone. I work in the tourism section so this actually benefits us."
"It feels like a way different Island, like this was water that we were on."
"We brough back the island from a small sand pile into a big island and now people will get to see it."
Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs 
Warren Garbutt, Chairman, Placencia 
Silk Caye salvation, it's one of our favourite stories of the last year.
"A lot of things have changed, islands I never see erode, they erode and so when I see Silk Caye going the way it was and it's our last hope. I think coming out here you see many islands, 99% of those islands is not owned by you and me. They are owned by foreigners and we invite and welcomed foreigners, that's a nice thing, but don't you think we have to own something? This island is more than just tourism. You know that every birthday my little girl's birthday is the 6th, so we came out. Instead of having a birthday party, this is our birthday party. This is our heritage. The next one over there my son does enjoy that when he was young. That was his birthday spot, but it is gone. So we cannot allow another spot like this. Tourism is great, but a lot of people who doesn't do it, think that things are only for tourist. Even the turtle came up and lay their eggs. That touch every part of my heart and soul."
"Without government assistance and so I told them that you might not have the money now to restore Silk Caye, but people already start it and all we need is your support and so cabinet agreed and ask me to arrange a meeting with the minister of the Blue Economy along with Eworth and his team. It was arranged one week after in Belize City and we all went there and the support from the Ministry of the Blue Economy and the CEO was extremely amazing."
"The love I feel for our country our community and this island also you know benefits everyone. I work in the tourism section so this actually benefits us."
"It feels like a way different Island, like this was water that we were on."
"We brough back the island from a small sand pile into a big island and now people will get to see it."
Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs 
Warren Garbutt, Chairman, Placencia 
