Yntegra offers eleventh-hour undertaking to stop all clearing, excavation and concrete works, just hours before the Supreme Court was to hear Turtlegrass's application for an emergency injunction.

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Turtlegrass recorded a significant win today in its fight to protect East Sampson Cay, Exuma, after Yntegra agreed to halt all construction, clearing, excavation and related works until the next court date. The commitment is a direct result of Turtlegrass’ application for an emergency injunction following weeks of accelerating works on East Sampson Cay that we repeatedly informed the court, since July 30th, were being carried out without the required approvals.

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Yntegra was pressing forward, and Turtlegrass moved to stop the works before further damage became irreversible. Yntegra initially opposed the application, filing papers contesting Turtlegrass's case. Turtlegrass replied with evidence of what it says was unlawful work: bulldozing and clearing of vegetation, the pushing of topsoil and sand into the sea, the erection of a dock, the delivery of prefabricated buildings, large-scale excavation to a depth of several feet, and the digging of more than two dozen foundation footer holes - all in an area of high ecological sensitivity that includes seagrass beds, coral habitat and hypersaline wetlands.

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It was only on the eve of today's scheduled hearing, after Turtlegrass had opposed Yntegra's papers, and with the court about to hear whether the works were lawful, that Yntegra came forward with an undertaking to stop.

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Turtlegrass regards the outcome as another win for the protection of a beautiful and ecologically sensitive orner of the Exumas. We remain committed to protecting the natural environment of the Exuma Cays and will continue to pursue all available avenues to ensure that any development on Sampson Cay proceeds lawfully and with proper environmental oversight.

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