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Minister of the Environment Neletha Butterfield threw dirt on claims that there were local solutions to the pitch problem at the National Centre.

Responding to critics who decried her tabling a bill that would allow the importation of foreign soil, Butterfield said there will not be any environmental disaster akin to the cedar blight from the 1940s.

She said the cedar blight that began in 1940s was the result of imported juniper trees carrying a scale pest. The cedar blight did not stem from the importation of foreign soil. The cedar blight also occurred more than 60 years ago when there were little regulations as far as importation of plants and agricultural materials.

She added that there was also a cost of not importing foreign soil.

"Much of the focus in this debate has been on the possible cost to Bermuda in terms of environmental damage should an invasive pest be introduced.

"We must look at the cost of not importing soil, for example, for use in the wicket of the cricket pitch of the Bermuda National Stadium.

"The National Stadium has been one of the longest running capital projects in the history of our island with much of the funding coming from Government. It is vital that the cricket pitch be certified by the International Cricket Board for use in officially sanctioned international cricket matches. This will contribute to Bermuda's economic and social environment in many ways, including valuable experience for our national cricket team and increased tourism to watch cricket matches. Indeed, at the recent Cricket World Cup, of the 16 competing countries, Bermuda was the only one without an accredited home ground.

Butterfield added: "To me, this entire issue is about managing risk, something many in Bermuda should understand. We in the Ministry of the Environment... are doing, and will do everything in our power to manage the risk and keep it to an absolute minimum.

"Something Bermuda residents perhaps fail to understand is that the people employed in the various Departments responsible for safeguarding Bermuda's environment are passionate about what they do. They don't want to see the environment impacted in a negative way at all. The new regulations call for specific treatment and extensive testing at many stages in the import process, and only when any imported soil has been fully cleared will it be allowed to enter the island. Highly qualified scientists will monitor the process from beginning to end to ensure risks are managed every step of the way."

Local options

The Department of Environmental Protection has been working with the National Sports Centre Board, the Bermuda Cricket Board, the department of Sports and Recreation, overseas consultants and the groundskeepers in their search for a suitable local soil, and other possible options including the importation of clay to be mixed with sand and local soil.

"However, it has been determined that the only suitable soil will need to be sourced from overseas.

"Few Bermuda residents may realize that large amount of plants, fruits, vegetables, and animals and potting medium are already imported into Bermuda on almost a daily basis.

"Bermuda imports large amounts of artificial growing medium and there is still a risk with this material, but it is a calculated risk. As with any risk management process, you mitigate the risk to ensure it is as small as possible, and this applies when importing plants, animals, trees, and potting mix and the same practice would be in place for any imported soil. Christmas trees are imported every year and are sometimes sent back following inspections which reveal pests. The island's nurseries, farmers and even private individuals import thousands of live plants and animals every year but vigorous inspections ensure that, to date, we have managed to keep foreign pests from destroying Bermuda's fragile ecosystem." She also has no plans to resign just because the Opposition calls for her head.[[In-content Ad]]

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