(Re)development of Vieques

Fri., Jul. 21, 2006

Coming from Washington DC, where discussions about gentrification always abound, I was surprised to find a similar discourse hundreds of miles south on the Puerto Rican island of Vieques.

As many of us know, Vieques was a testing ground for the U.S. Navy between 1941 and 2003. After increasing civil disobedience between 1999 and 2003, social justice was finally rendered to the inhabitants of this island off the coast of Puerto Rico and tests were stopped. However, after years of struggle, the Viequense people may not lose their island to mortars and bombs of the U.S. military, but to a far more elusive enemy: development and gentrification.

The Vieques coast. © Ian Warthin

Today Vieques finds itself in a paradox. To many, Vieques is an untouched tropical paradise, where great deals and beautiful beaches can be found. However, to others Vieques is an opportunity to create a living example of what controlled, sustainable, eco-tourism could look like in the modern day. To the U.S. government Vieques is a thorn in the side of the Department of Fish and Wildlife, who now control the majority of the island; the Navy, who�s responsible for the cleanup of the island; and the EPA, who�s responsible for monitoring the clean up of this SuperFund site. Stuck in the middle of all of this are the Viequense people.

A former U.S. Navy bunker on the west side of Vieques island. © Ian Warthin

Immediately following the end of military testing on Vieques, an elite group of Puerto Rican social scientists were assembled to develop "The Guide to Sustainable Development for the island of Vieques." These guidelines have subsequently become the blueprint for U.S. law defining the manner in which Vieques be developed following it�s sixty years of military rule.

Plans to decontaminate the island after the Navy�s testing have resulted in an extensive, snail-paced clean up effort, which seems to be keeping at bay any sort of rapid development. The Residents Advisory Board (RAB) and many other Viequense are calling for a more rapid de-contamination of the island, even though it could hinder some chances at controlling development. However, as we speak the demographics of property owners on Vieques seems to be changing, as New Englanders and New Yorkers replace the native Viequense people.

Mural on the side of a former U.S. Navy bunker. © Ian Warthin

What this rapid change in population and slow clean up efforts may result in is a Vieques more prone to the same environmentally unsound development that we�ve seen in the past because this may be allowed by its change in demographics. In the same way that Hawaii, St. Bard, and any number of other tourist hotspots have become ghost towns in the off-season, the Viequense are also fleeing the island and leaving behind the island they for which they fought.

Comment List

"Viequenses fleeing"

Author: ulrica brinkerhoff

Time: 07/22/2006 18:33

Comment: As a New Englander that has lived in Vieques fulltime for 5 years (prior to Navy departing), I would like to point out that a LARGE reason for locals departing is the distinct lack of health care on our island. The local government previously refused repeated Navy offers of a hospital. The lack of decent health care is a major factor in older persons departing the island. A factor for the younger generation is the lack of employment opportunities which are mostly limited to construction trades or the tourist service industry. the Navy did offer grants for enterpeneurs to start businesses, but our local administration hinders economic growth rather than supporting it. The local administration is strongly anti-american and is doing anything in their power to supress any form of development - ecotourism or not- in an effort to encourage secession form the US and affiliation with Venezuela and Cuba. I would suggest that further extended research of the situation here might be in order!