Save the 66

Thank you all for caring enough to join this group. I was given the information that 66 trees were to be destroyed starting from the lights at Perpall Tract to the area opposite KFC.

My friend and fellow organizer of this group, went down to Ministry of Works demanding to see and take a copy of the plans. She was unable to get them, they promised they would be ready later in the week. She did however, take a photo of the proposed plan.

There are now 31 trees slotted for destruction from the salmon colored wall at CA Christie, at the western tip of the beach all the way down to where the stone jetty juts out from the shore, just past the Shell Gas Station. This is even worse! This is the part of the beach where the shady trees are MOST needed.

Furthermore, it has nothing to do with widening the road, they are putting up a parking lot for 70 plus cars, a small playground and a set of bathrooms. Traffic will be re-directed around the back of this "development" instead of driving along the beach.

We were also told by the Ministry of Works, that the trees were planted in the 1920's, proof of how durable and hearty they are to have withstood Hurricane Andrew, Floyd and a host of others over the years. They say they will take out these trees and replace them with others, either the five finger, native oak or some other tree.

Coming into hurricane season now, how strong will these replacement trees be? They have proven to be the only species in New Providence capable of growing so close to the water, in the sand, tolerating sea spray and large amounts salt water, and remain resilient in the face of direct hurricane winds.

There is still time to mobilize and let the powers that be know, that we do not want those trees torn out, they are a beautiful, needed resource.