Aug. 21, 2008 — After getting the word out in person and through the media that changes were afoot in Christmas Cove, False Entrance and Secret Harbour on St. Thomas (see "Liveaboard Boats Getting the Boot from St. Thomas Bays."), the Planning and Natural Resources Department announced Thursday it will meet with boaters before implementing the changes.
"Although these laws have been on the books for a long time, we feel the need to have a meeting with the community before enforcing them," Planning spokesman Jamal Nielsen said Thursday.
The meeting begins at 9 a.m. Wednesday at Planning's conference room at Cyril E. King Airport on St. Thomas.
DPNR plans to evict all live-aboards from Christmas Cove, False Entrance and Secret Harbor, and install moorings at Christmas Cove for use by transient boaters including day and overnight charter boats. No one will be allowed to anchor or moor at False Entrance. Only boats associated with Secret Harbour Beach Resort will be allowed to use moorings in front of the hotel.
The department's Environmental Enforcement Division assistant director, Roberto Tapia, said this week the changes were called for in the 1992 Mooring and Anchoring law passed by the Legislature.
But Erik Ackerson, who serves as director of the V.I. Charteryacht League, said the timing of the meeting is terrible since most all of the organization's members are elsewhere.
"Most of the 200 members are away for the season," he said.
He suggested that November would be a better time because charter boaters are on St. Thomas for the annual fall Charteryacht League show.
He also questioned the meeting's location at the airport. He said it poses transportation challenges for boaters who live on the East End of St. Thomas and on St. John.
Ackerson pointed out that DPNR's conference room is small and will only accommodate perhaps a dozen people. It will be up to Ackerson to inform his members on any changes in the department's rules and regulations, he said.
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