David Gegg defends his investment on San Pedro

But the developer of the proposed project, David Gegg, says the concerns are based on unrealistic impressions and false information.  The project was originally planned for the Tuffy area, south of the current site.  But San Pedro Town Mayor, Elsa Paz recommended that the location be changed to the Mexico Rocks area.  She was not in office today to answer our questions but Gegg explains that the project is completely safe and poses fewer risks than snorkeling and scuba diving.

David Gegg, Developer

“Sea Trek is one of the safest, most environmentally friendly dive activities there is in the world.  It operates in forty different countries around the world.  Most recently they opened in Vanuatu in Fiji just last week, and they’re in Hawaii, they’re in Mexico, they’re in the Bahamas, they’re in Cayman, they’re in all developed countries of the world and hopefully we’ll soon have an operation in Belize.”

Marion Ali

“But I spoke with a marine biologist, I spoke with some environmentalists, I spoke with concerned residents and their concerns seem to be legitimate.  People who touch these sensitive marine life or life formations such as brain coral and so forth that are on the seabed can potentially destroy them.  Isn’t that legitimate?”

David Gegg

David gegg

“Marion, if we would have done anything irresponsible we would have done it three years ago.  This project is three years in the making and funding for the project was not provided until we had a legal signed Environmental Compliance Plan.  It is intended to allow us to operate in an area in Mexico Rocks where there is actually no coral on the sea floor.  It’s a sandy area where you can walk without any impact to coral or anything on the seafloor.  There’s no direct contact with marine life, there’s a sandy area in which we’ve been authorized to operate.  What we intend to do is to put a rail so that people can hold this rail and follow that rail and they can’t divert from that rail.  So they’ll be walking on the seafloor, over nothing more than sand.”

Marion Ali

“Who’s gonna ensure that?”

David Gegg

“We are gonna ensure it and I’m sure that DOE is gonna be right there making sure that we ensure it.  We’re not gonna do anything outside of what our ECP calls for.  I mean we’re obliged to set this thing up at least six feet away from any coral head so people can’t possibly touch the coral.  I was at Mexico Rocks a couple months ago.  People came from the island in kayaks, they tied their kayaks onto the coral heads, they jumped in the water with gloves, with Hawaiian slings, went spear fishing at Mexico Rocks and nobody said anything.  I mean why is this kinda thing allowed to happen we are trying to be the good citizen and make sure that that can’t possibly be done?”

Marion Ali

“The Minister of Tourism, who is also the Area Representative from San Pedro has said that a suggestion was made to you to consult with these people, the BTB out there, the environmental groups, and you’ve said flatly “It’s a waste of time”, using his words.  Did you say that?  Or are you willing to consult with these people?”

David Gegg

“Of course I’m willing to consult with these people.”

Marion Ali

“Have you done so?”

David Gegg

“We have not done so yet because we’re not even near to being operational yet.  We need to get out there and get set up and I will happily consult with anybody out there.”

Gegg says that waste being dumped from the forty-two by sixteen and a half foot barge should not be a concern because his project is required to pump waste into a holding tank and otherwise dispose of the sewer.   He added that the project will also boost the tourism industry for the island’s current economic slump.