Barbuda's Sand Mining: Where And How?

Sand mining in Barbuda has been a lucrative yet environmentally destructive industry for decades. The Barbuda Council has attempted to end the practice, but it has continued under various Council leaders. The mining has caused coastal erosion, destroyed unique biodiversity, and increased the island's vulnerability to storms and the impacts of climate change. Marine Biologist John Mussington has warned that sand mining is compromising the island's coastlines and destroying valuable natural resources. The construction industry's demand for sand is irreparably harming this fragile ecosystem, threatening the island's water supply and the integrity of its coastline.

Barbuda Council's resolution to end sand mining

Sand mining has been the largest industry on the island of Barbuda. In April 2012, the Barbuda Council passed a resolution to end sand mining due to the environmental damage it causes. Despite this, the practice has continued under various Council leaders who view it as a lucrative income.

A Destructive Industry

The period between 1983 and 1993 saw the most serious exploitation of Barbuda's natural resources by the Antigua government. American investor Dave Strickland started the sand business, which grossed over EC$218 million in total. However, the people of Barbuda saw few benefits as the profits went into the pockets of a few partners in the business, including three Antigua Government ministers and the late Bruce Rappaport, owner of a Swiss-American bank.

During the height of the mining, a road was hastily constructed to facilitate the rapid transport of sand off the island. This was done at the expense of the environment, as Barbuda had no other surfaced roads at the time. The industry caused bitterness and enmity between the Antiguan Government, the Barbuda Council, and the people of Barbuda, who received nothing from the sale of their island's sand.

Ongoing Environmental Impact

The Environmental Division has conducted several studies concluding that sand mining could result in serious coastal erosion and compromise the island's coastlines. Marine Biologist John Mussington has warned that mining is destroying unique and valuable biodiversity resources and increasing the island's vulnerability to storms and the impacts of climate change. The area within the Codrington Lagoon National Park has been severely affected, with beach shoreline loss and erosion in the Palmetto Point area.

Underground freshwater resources are also being contaminated and rendered unusable due to the mining. Additionally, mining sand down to sea level creates a dangerous situation, making the entire area susceptible to flooding during storms and ground swells, which occur annually in Antigua & Barbuda.

A Challenging Resolution

The resolution to end sand mining in Barbuda has faced challenges. In 2013, the Council administration under Chairman Arthur Nibbs resumed sand mining despite the 2012 resolution to stop it. Nibbs cited financial troubles within the council and the central government as reasons for resuming the practice.

The struggle to end sand mining in Barbuda continues, with ongoing environmental damage and a lack of lasting benefits for the island's population.

The environmental impact of sand mining

Sand mining was the largest industry on the island of Barbuda. Despite attempts by the Barbuda Council to end the industry in 2012, it has continued under various Council leaders who view it as a lucrative income, regardless of the environmental damage it causes.

One of the most pressing concerns is coastal erosion. Mussington states that Barbuda is losing beach shoreline in the Palmetto Point area, where severe erosion is taking place. This erosion is not only damaging the island's natural beauty but also increasing its vulnerability to storms and the impacts of climate change. The underground freshwater resources are also being contaminated and rendered unusable due to the mining activities.

Additionally, the mining of sand down to sea level creates a hazardous situation. It makes the entire area susceptible to flooding during storms and even during the annual ground swells experienced by Antigua and Barbuda. The environmental division's studies have warned of these dangers, but sand mining continues unabated, with no regard for the long-term consequences on the island's natural resources and the welfare of its population.

The period between 1983 and 1993 saw the most serious exploitation of Barbuda's natural resources by the Antigua government. Led by American investor Dave Strickland, the sand business generated over EC$218 million. However, the benefits went primarily to a few individuals, including three Antigua Government ministers and the owner of a Swiss-American bank. The majority of Barbudans saw little to no benefit from the sale of their island's sand, leading to widespread bitterness and enmity.

Sand mining's effect on local wildlife

Sand mining has had a significant impact on the local wildlife in Barbuda. The island's sand mining industry, which was the largest the island has ever seen, has caused widespread environmental damage with no lasting benefits for the population of Barbuda.

One of the main issues caused by sand mining is erosion. The removal of large volumes of sand from beaches and river banks leads to their erosion and shrinking. This can result in the loss of fertile land and property, as well as the destabilization of the ground, causing infrastructure failures. The area of Palmetto Point in Barbuda has experienced severe erosion due to sand mining, compromising the island's coastlines and destroying unique and valuable biodiversity resources.

Sand mining also directly harms local wildlife. Beaches and sandbanks are home to various species, such as crabs, snails, and turtles. When sand is mined from these areas, it disturbs the wildlife living in the ecosystem. For example, sea turtles that dig nests in the sand to lay their eggs may lose their nesting sites due to sand mining. This can lead to a decrease in the turtle population and even the disappearance of the species from the area.

Additionally, sand mining can create turbidity in the water, reducing water quality and making it difficult for aquatic wildlife to survive. It can block sunlight from reaching corals, causing them harm, and it can also lead to fish die-offs due to a lack of food and oxygen. The entire aquatic system may fail, causing significant economic losses for the fishing industry that depends on these waters.

Sand mining also makes areas more prone to flooding. Beaches, dunes, and sandbanks act as natural barriers against flooding. When these barriers are removed due to sand mining, communities near the sea or river become more vulnerable to flooding and the forces of nature.

The aesthetic beauty of beaches and river banks is also destroyed by sand mining, impacting tourism potential. This further affects the local economy, as tourism is an important source of income for many areas.

The history of sand mining in Barbuda

Sand mining is the largest industry to have ever operated on the island of Barbuda. After 30 years of inconsistent attempts to end the practice, the Barbuda Council tried to bring the industry to a close with a Council resolution in early April 2012. Despite this, the industry has continued under various Council leaders on both sides, who view sand mining as a lucrative source of income, regardless of the environmental damage it causes.

The most serious period of sand mining in Barbuda's history took place between 1983 and 1993 when the Antigua government exploited the island's natural resources. The industry was started by American investor Dave Strickland, who built the Sandman House on River Beach. The sand business grossed over EC$218 million in total, but the people of Barbuda saw few benefits. Instead, the profits went into the pockets of three Antigua Government ministers and the late Bruce Rappaport, owner of the now-defunct Swiss-American bank.

The industry caused much bitterness and enmity between the Antiguan (Lester Bird) Government, the Barbuda Council, and the majority of the people of Barbuda, who received nothing from the sale of sand. During the height of mining, a road was built and tarmacked on one side to allow trucks to transport sand as quickly as possible. This occurred at a time when Barbuda had no other surfaced roads, demonstrating the rush to ship as much sand off the island as possible for maximum profit in Antigua. Litigation to prevent this exploitation lasted over ten years in the High Courts and resulted in three members of Antigua Aggregates and Sandco Ltd (the companies responsible for mining the sand) being jailed for one month. However, they were then saved from prison by a last-minute pardon.

Despite constant warnings from the Environmental Division and marine biologists, sand mining continues in Barbuda's National Park, causing severe erosion and compromising the island's coastlines and unique biodiversity. The area lies within the Codrington Lagoon National Park, which is a RAMSAR site designated as a Wetland of International Importance. By continuing to mine sand, Barbuda is going against its commitment to managing its natural resources sustainably and is increasing its vulnerability to the impacts of climate change.

Alternatives to sand mining

Sand mining was the largest industry on the island of Barbuda, and despite attempts by the Barbuda Council to end the industry in April 2012, it has continued due to the lucrative income it provides. The practice has caused widespread environmental damage and has been the source of conflict between the Antiguan government and the Barbuda Council.

Recycled Building Materials

Recycled building and quarry dust material can be used as a substitute for sand. Concrete rubble can be recycled and used for low-quality applications, reducing the need for aggregates. Quarry dust could be used to replace sand in general concrete structures.

Slag

Slag, a waste product from the steel industry, can be used as an alternative to sand in plain cement concrete.

Fly Ash

Fly ash, a waste product from thermal power plants, can be used as an alternative to sand in plain cement concrete.

Crushed Over-Burnt Bricks and Tiles

Crushed over-burnt bricks and tiles, waste products from the clay brick and tile industry, can be used as an alternative to sand in plain cement concrete.

Copper Slag

Copper slag can be used as a replacement for sand up to 50% to obtain concrete with good strength and durability. It can also be used as a partial replacement for sand as a fine aggregate in concrete pavement, with compressive and flexural strength 20% higher than conventional cement concrete.

Bottom Ash

Washed bottom ash, a waste product from thermal power plants, can be used as a replacement for natural sand in concrete. Using 30% replacement by weight results in optimal strength and a good strength development pattern.

Quarry Dust

Quarry dust, the waste material left over from crusher units, can be used as a replacement for sand in concrete. Using a replacement percentage of 55-75% for quarry dust and combining it with fly ash can achieve 100% replacement of sand.

Foundry Sand

Foundry sand, which is high in silica, can be used as a replacement for sand in concrete. Up to 30% replacement can be used for economical and sustainable development.

Construction and Demolition Waste

Recycled sand and aggregate from construction and demolition waste can be used as a replacement for sand in non-structural applications like flooring and filling. This substitute has 10-15% lower strength than normal concrete.

Recycled Plastic

Recycled plastic has the potential to be a serious alternative to sand in road construction. Plastic roads are estimated to be three times more durable than traditional asphalt roads, but more testing is needed to study their environmental impact and longevity.

Frequently asked questions