It qualifies as a world-class tourist destination, with beaches of powdery sand, palm trees, clear waters and coral reefs. I feel disappointed, and a bit guilty. I pushed to remove the eucalyptus plantation out of Matutuine, thinking Blanchard's project would be better for the environment. Now I wonder. The fence was supposed to be finished in February.
Elephants cross through the gaps and trample over the plots.
BME project manager Eugene Gouws says the hitches have been caused by delays in negotiating with the communities over the path of the fence and the compensation to be paid for loss of property. Once these are resolved, he says, the fence will be completed in less than 15 days. Ladders will be built over it to allow community members access on both sides. The people of Massoane, however, say the fence blocks their usual paths. Gouws, while waxing lyrical about BME's dialogue with the community, did not know the name of the person representing the community at the company's regular meetings.