Tensions have erupted over a proposed mining operation to support Dominica’s new international airport project, with the Kalinago Council issuing a sharp official rebuke of a recent pro-development statement from Marigot Constituency Parliamentary Representative Anthony S. Charles. The conflict centers on mining activities planned at Deux Branches, an area adjacent to Kalinago traditional lands that holds deep cultural and ecological significance for the Indigenous community.
In a public statement dated April 17, 2026, the Kalinago Council outlined its grave concerns about Charles’ April 15 press release, which argued that mining should proceed at Deux Branches with environmental safeguards and fair compensation. The council pushed back against Charles’ opening framing that the people of Marigot have always supported progress that balances development with citizen rights, arguing the wording implies the rights of Kalinago and Concord residents do not deserve the same respect.
As the official governing body mandated to protect the welfare, cultural heritage, and long-term interests of the Kalinago people, the council emphasized the community’s centuries-long history of resilience amid systemic marginalization, cultural erasure, forced assimilation pressures, and near-genocidal policies. For the Kalinago, the Concord River near the proposed mining site is far more than a natural feature: it is a cultural lifeline that supports local tourism, sustains daily household needs for the community, and holds irreplaceable cultural significance. Any development that threatens the river’s integrity and the community’s access to clean water, the council argues, demands full transparency and rigorous scrutiny, not rushed advancement.
A core point of contention is Charles’ claim that comprehensive environmental mitigation measures are already in place at the site. The Kalinago Council says Charles never held any consultations with the council, Kalinago residents, or Concord residents to disclose what these measures actually entail. Compounding this lack of engagement, the recently released Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) for the project—never shared or discussed with affected communities before its publication—uncovers deeply alarming risks. The document confirms E. Coli contamination was detected in the Concord River as early as November 2025, a critical public health detail that was concealed from local residents who continue to rely on the river for daily use.
Even more worrying are the ESIA’s findings of toxic heavy metal contamination: mercury deposits and arsenic levels measured at up to 500 times the safe limit set by the World Health Organization. The council notes these are not minor administrative oversights, but severe long-term public health hazards that increase residents’ risk of developing cancer and other chronic life-threatening conditions. The council condemns the deliberate withholding of this life-saving information from the community that faces the greatest risk from contamination.
The already dangerous situation, the council points out, has already resulted in formal regulatory action. Dominica’s Development and Planning Corporation, acting under the Physical Planning Act, issued a formal Stop Order for all mining activities at Deux Branches on December 1, 2025, citing violations that threaten public health and safety. Against this legal background, the council calls Charles’ call to resume mining activities extremely disturbing, as it openly advocates for action that violates the existing laws of the Commonwealth of Dominica.
The council also adds that alternate, suitable sources of aggregate and stone required for the airport project have already been identified at other quarries across the island. This eliminates any urgent justification for proceeding with mining at Deux Branches, which would bring unnecessary environmental and social disruption to Kalinago traditional lands.
Beyond the environmental and legal risks, the council criticizes Charles’ failure to fulfill his representative duties. In his role as Parliamentary Representative, he has not made any meaningful effort to consult with or engage residents of Marigot or Concord on the proposed mining development. There has been no open dialogue, no outreach, and no demonstration of advocacy for the communities that would be most impacted by the project.
The Kalinago Council reaffirms that the community will not remain passive in the face of decisions that threaten their health, natural environment, and cultural heritage. The council asserts the inherent right of the Kalinago people to be fully informed, consulted, and included in decision-making for any development that impacts their community and natural resources. The governing body remains committed to defending the integrity of Kalinago Territory and the well-being of its people, and says it remains open to constructive dialogue with Charles if he is willing to engage in good faith.
In closing, the Kalinago Council calls for immediate transparency, full accountability, meaningful community engagement, and adherence to the laws of the Commonwealth of Dominica before any further activity is permitted at the Deux Branches mining site. The statement was signed by Kalinago Chief Anette Sanford and all members of the Kalinago Council.