TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums British Virgin Islands Cane Garden Bay

Sounds like runoff from the ghut between The Elm and Rhymer's during Karen has caused the problem....before people start blaming boats anchored in the bay (none were there during the storm). Sadly leaking septics etc from houses behind the bay and up the hill are probably to blame. Not exactly a pleasant ad for our beloved islands.

The waters around all the islands get contaminated after a storm from the runoff from the land which is highly contaminated with Iquana, Mongoose and other animals feces, this mixed with the untreated raw sewerage is a cocktail for diseases.
After a few days the tides and currents will bring it back to normal.

Hate to say it, but I suspect once the cruise ships start coming back, the problem will be resolved, at least temporarily.

Yep, I think you're right. By next Tuesday there should be an all clear....

Other than the resolving the pollution problem, it would be nice if the dinghy dock issue was permanently resolved. We've been going there since the early 80s and that thing has always been a mess. They wouldn't need an Irma-proof dock but at least one that doesn't get destroyed by the typical northerly swells. Maybe a couple of dollar tax on the mooring balls would generate enough revenue.

Or maybe they could use some of that environmental impact fee already in place?

Please don’t suggest additional tourist taxes. Someone in the government might hear you. The arrival tax, departure tax, charterboat tax, cruising tax, personal fishing tax, boat fishing tax ect.. are enough!
G

They have plenty of money to fix it but they don’t really care.

Here's a simple way for the Gov to earn a fortune in tax dollars. They charge a 10% sales tax ( may even be 12% now) to the buyer of BVI real estate if they are a "non belonger" ( disgusting term). If they would speed up the issuing of "non belonger law holder licences" they would be collecting lots of 10% (or 12%) per cents..Duh! They would also make buying property in the BVI much more attractive to folks who are scared off by the system ( and that awful moniker).

Not trying to hijack the thread but maybe this group has funds for the dinghy dock, just saw an FB post that shows them placing some new navaids around the islands....... https://bvirecovery.vg/projects/

This from their FB post

"SEAMARKERS | EN ROUTE TO BVI

Twenty-six newly manufactured Sea Markers are now en route to the Virgin Islands to be installed at Jost Van Dyke, Cane Garden Bay, Virgin Gorda and Beef Island to improve maritime access to the Territory.

Recently, officials from the RDA, joined the Virgin Islands Shipping Registry (VISR), National Parks Trust, local contractor Sand Dollar Marine Consultants and subcontractor Commercial Dive Services to finalise the positions for the Sea Markers which are scheduled to arrive in the Territory by the end of this month.

Sand Dollar Marine Consultants was awarded the contract in July, to install 26 Sea Markers throughout the Virgin Islands which will restore and establish equipment crucial to the safe passage of vessels in the Territory’s waters.

The RDA is responsible for the delivery of this project on behalf of Ministry of Natural Resources, Labour and Immigration and in cooperation with the BVI Ports Authority and VISR.

Learn more about how the RDA continues to support the recovery of the Virgin Islands by visiting bvirecovery.vg. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter @RDABVI."

Yes, 12%. Cash only. Cannot be wrapped into a mortgage.

The polution problem is the result of eliminating the salt ponds that once served to filter the outflow of the 4 ghuts that drain all the area from about Rudy's on Ridge Road to Windy Hill Road. The product of every chicken, dog, donkey and leaking septic tank ends up in the bay because there is no longer any natural filtration.

The beach is open again.