Controlled fire over Southeast Peninsula to make way for golf course

Smoke billowing from the South East Peninsula area that can be seen from the Basseterre area is a controlled burn to facilitate the creation of a golf course. So says the Acting Fire Chief Everette O’Garro.

Kyss FM reached out to the fire chief after several citizens pointed toward thick black smoke blowing toward the Nag’s Head area- the Southeastern-most tip of St. Kitts- earlier this morning.

O’Garro indicated that that his department is confident that the fire has no chance of spreading or compromising residential and business structures in the area.

The acting fire chief noted that the controlled burn came after discussions with stakeholders at Christophe Harbour.

According to an article on the “Elitetraveler” website, a 2500 acre golf course had its ground-breaking ceremony on Wednesday, 12th November, 2008. The golf course was designed with world-class golf course designer Tom Fazio.

The article further stated that creative and careful environmental preservation is a fundamental part of the planning for the course. Fazio’s respected team, along with the experienced developer, will strive to create a course that is both environmentally friendly and an enhancement to the natural surroundings. They will take a number of steps to curb erosion and sustain the environment, to include the filtering of water through Reverse Osmosis (RO) processes before it is used for irrigation. Wetlands treatments are also planned, and will likely include groups of saltwater mangroves that treat runoff water.

Efforts made to get a statement from Christophe arbour management were unsuccessful.

The controlled burn is expected to last a few days.