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Ministry Rejects 101-Hectare EIA for Morne Development Project

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Ministry Rejects 101-Hectare EIA for Morne Development Project
Image source: Defi Media

The Ministry of Environment has denied permission for a major real estate development near Morne Brabant. The project, proposed by High-Hills Properties Ltd, involved building on land at Coteau Raffin, at the foot of Morne Brabant.

In January 2024, High-Hills Properties, a subsidiary of Prime Investments Ltd, submitted an environmental impact assessment (EIA) request to develop 101 hectares (about 240 acres) of land.

The plan was to subdivide the land into nine lots, ranging from 4.5 to 20 hectares, for residential and commercial use.

The project also included plans to install water, electricity, and street lighting networks.

The company claimed that the project would not significantly affect the environment, asserting that the site lacked protected flora and fauna.

They also noted that the land is outside the UNESCO World Heritage zone and the buffer zone of Morne Brabant.

The land in question was formerly used as a sugarcane field, abandoned for over 15 years, and previously owned by a developer who failed to implement an Integrated Resort Scheme (IRS) project.

Despite these claims, the Environment Ministry rejected the EIA request. Authorities cited insufficient environmental guarantees, especially regarding the site’s terrain.

Parts of the land have slopes over 20%, raising concerns about erosion and landslides.

Although a preliminary geotechnical clearance was issued by the Ministry of Infrastructure, environmental officials warned that the project could harm the landscape of this mountainous area.

Additionally, the historic DanZak trail, over 700 meters long and believed to have been used by slaves, played a role in the decision.

Recognized as part of the cultural landscape management plan for Morne, the trail is considered an important element of the site’s exceptional universal value.

It falls outside the protected UNESCO zone but is significant for its cultural heritage.

This rejection marks another setback for development plans in the Morne area. About ten years ago, an earlier attempt to develop the site failed, leading to the bankruptcy of West Horizon Ltd, the previous developer.

The current decision reflects ongoing caution by authorities to protect high-value ecological and cultural sites from potentially damaging development projects.

Source: Defi Media

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