Urbanization is a phenomenon that is occurring throughout the
world. As urban centers grow, agricultural land is informally converted
into urban use, particularly for tourism. The English-speaking
Caribbean, a chain of small islands, which is as an attractive
destination for foreigners who travel thousands of miles, and spend
considerable sums of money to take in the sun, sand and sea.
In the English-speaking Caribbean, the role of the State
in relation to tourism has mainly been indirect. Physical incentives
are common, for example, the provision of infrastructure,
utilities and promotional activities accompanied by some training
and development. Tourism is mainly a private sector activity,
however the Bahamas, Curacao, Aruba and Grenada have
put mechanisms in place to exercise control over the industry.
At a Workshop on Land Policy, Administration and Management
in the English speaking Caribbean held in Port of Spain Trinidad
in March 2003, prominent Land Managers and Administrators
throughout the Caribbean presented papers on the workshop
theme. The issues common throughout the deliberations indicated
the State has been delinquent in its physical planning
strategies and this has resulted in unregulated control over land.
For example in Tobago, local fishermen were denied access to
the Pigeon Point beach; after a lengthy legal battle the State acquired
the property in order to allow locals to access the beach.
The State’s lack of implementation of physical planning strategies
and enforcement of building codes has resulted in irresponsible
development. Foreign capital channeled through ventures
with local residents is the driving force behind most of the development.
Once business partners have sufficient funding to
undertake their venture, there is no need to interact with the Planning
Authority for approval, since the change in land use patterns
occurs outside of the formal process. This process results in agricultural
land being converted to large tourism complexes and
private holiday villas with little if any oversight. In some or almost
most of the territories in the Caribbean, planning guidelines are not
enforced, site development standards are breached and building
designs are not always compatible with the land use classification.
Since the tourism infrastructure of the Caribbean region is
mainly located on the coast, the majority of tourist facilities are
located within 800 m of the high water mark. The wastes and
pollution generated by the tourism industry, especially by cruise
ships, are discharged into the sea. The impact of this activity is so
great that in Trinidad and Tobago research on the die-off rate of
fish species is being conducted by the Institute of Marine Affairs.
Jamaica has not as yet achieved the sustainable management
of its land resources. Eighty percent of the island has
been classified as mountainous with the remainder zoned for
agriculture, commercial, industrial, mining, residential, watersheds
and other uses. The State owns 22% of the land in Jamaica,
and one of the challenges faced by the State is the lack
of development plans and databases. Work has been initiated
to address these shortcomings through legislation and policy.
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In Guyana, as the boundaries of the urban center expand, agricultural
land is informally converted to urban use, such as tourism.
Guyana is faced with the challenge of preserving its remaining
agricultural land holdings near the city in the presence of an influx
of rural migrants. Guyana lacks a National Plan to address
the supply of land for ecotourism as well as policies to address
coastal agriculture, urban housing, and the use of land for tourist
resorts. Currently physical planning is sporadic and reactionary.
In Antigua and Barbuda, the development of the tourism industry
is reflected in the patterns of land use change evident
on the island. Prior to 1975, the major land uses were agriculture,
grazing and livestock. By 1983 the labor force in agriculture
fell from 46% to 9% and by 1985, 60% of the work force
was in the public or private sector with 23% in tourism. There
was also a marked decline in land in agriculture from approximately
25,000 acres in 1964 to 5,500 acres in 1985. Of these
1200 acres was used for the construction of hotels and golf
courses. There was a marked increase in the construction of facilities
for tourists and by 1995 the acreage increased by 138%.
Although this statistic signifies a large percentage of the labor
force is in the tourism industry, many persons are also converting
residential properties into bed and breakfast facilities thereby
generating the need for additional resources. In the case of Tobago,
many large agricultural estates are being subdivided into
smaller parcels and converted to holiday homesteads for sale to
foreigners. This trend has resulted in an astronomical increase
in the price of real estate on the island and many locals are
now unable to acquire a decent property at an affordable price.
In Trinidad and Tobago, in 1992 the State adopted a New Administration
and Distribution Policy for Land. One of the policy
goals enunciated in the document was the prevention of prime agricultural
land from being converted to nonagricultural use through
the institution of land use zoning. The objective was to ensure food
production, food security and employment for the rural sector.
Many of the islands that comprise the English-speaking Caribbean
rely heavily on the tourism industry as a significant contributor
to their GDP. Some such as Trinidad and Tobago and
possibly Jamaica also have additional resources e.g. oil and
gas. More attention must be focused on the issue of the formulation
of National Physical Development Plans with specific reference
to land for tourism and the attendant site development
standards. Some territories have drafted Physical Development
Plans, however many are outdated or are awaiting approval from
the relevant authorities. Even in instances where Plans have
been accepted, implementation of the Plans has been stymied
by administrative and bureaucratic challenges. It is evident that
with the overexploitation of natural resources for tourism, unintended
consequences can arise. If the product is no longer of
interest then travelers will take their business elsewhere, hence
one can not sufficiently underscore the importance of the role of
physical planning in the sustainable development of the region. |