Documents reveal proposals
for US $7-9M dolphinarium
– Advisors, Health Minister,
FCCA support project –
PHILIPSBURG--An advisory group recommended to the Executive Council last September that it should approve the establishment of a dolphinarium at the Economic Development Corporation (EDC) land adjacent to the cruise and harbour facility at Pointe Blanche by the Mexico-based company Atlantida.
The September 23 advice to the Executive Council to proceed with the project was signed and supported by Frank Mingo and Miguel de Weever of the Economic Affairs Department, Lionel Coombs and Hensley Kwidama of the Environmental Development and Property Management Department and Louis Brown of the Projects Bureau.
The project will be an investment of approximately US$7 to US$9 million.
From a dossier of documents acquired by The Daily Herald over the weekend, it was not clear whether the Executive Council had indeed given its final approval.
However, from all indications gleaned from the dossier, the Executive Council is in favour of the project that also has the support “in principle” of Minister of Health and Social Development Joan Theodora-Brewster and the blessings of President of the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association Michele Paige.
EDC Interim Director J.E. Richardson, explained in a letter to Commissioner of Tourism and Economic Affairs Theo Heyliger that “in principle” there was agreement between “WSD/EDC and Atlantida regarding the proposed lease (of) a plot of land of approximately 6,000 square metres to Atlantida” for US $30,000 monthly.
In that letter dated July 28, 2004, Richardson explained that in addition to the monthly lease, there was also agreement in principle for an “up-front payment amounting to US $100,000.”
The dossier also included three concept documents sent to the Executive Council by the five-member Advisory Group. These three documents were all purportedly signed by both the Lt. Governor and the Island Secretary, but they were undated.
One addressed to Richardson referred to his July 28 letter and informed him that “the Executive Council has informed Atlantida that the establishing of a dolphinarium has no objection of the Council.”
It also invited Atlantida “to proceed with developing more concrete plans in consultation with our departments,” requested St. Maarten Harbour Cruise Facilities N.V. to give EDC the “right of use” for the part of the dolphinarium planned in Great Bay, and authorised Richardson to start negotiating with Atlantida “about the lease of a part of the EDC property and the water part in Great Bay.”
The second letter was addressed to a Mr. Babb of Atlantida. It referred to a July 29, 2004, presentation about the project to the Executive Council. It also welcomed Babb’s initiative and recommended that since the presentation was “primarily conceptual in nature,” more concrete plans should be developed in close cooperation with VROM and other relevant government agencies, “to ensure that your plans fit within the parameters and regulations of the Island Territory of St. Maarten.”
It was “strongly recommended” to Babb that Atlantida carry out a public relations (PR) campaign “to inform the public of St. Maarten via the local media.”
In addition, Babb was advised that the establishing of a dolphinarium in St. Maarten required the approval of the Minister of Public Health and Social Development and told that the Executive Council “looks forward to the successful realization of the project.”
The third letter was addressed to Mingo. It informed him of the Island Government’s intention to construct a dolphinarium on part of the EDC property and him that “the Executive Council has no objection to give ‘right of superfice’ of that water part of EDC to the entity involved with the construction of a dolphinarium.”
Minister Theodora-Brewster in her letter of support “in principle” dated July 12, 2004, said she was willing to grant an exemption based on article 11-2 of the SPAW (Specially Protected Areas and Wildlife) protocol.
The minister also listed 13 conditions that the company had to comply with for the complete support of the Central Government.
Conditions include that the project has to have “a clear educational purpose, beneficial to the conservation of Caribbean wild dolphins,” dolphins cannot be taken from the wild (however, wild dolphins captured before June 18, 2000, are allowed because the SPAW protocol came into effect on this date), only Caribbean dolphins will be allowed and the Island Government’s support is needed.
The project has also received the support of Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) President Michele Paige who said in a letter (also dated July 12) to Atlantida, an FCCA Platinum member, “In-water dolphin interactive programs have become one of our most popular shore excursions, because every day facilities like Atlantida make dreams come true by providing our passengers with this once-in-a-life-time experience.”
Meanwhile, according to information given by Atlantida in its July presentation to the Executive Council, the company’s intention is to develop a state-of-the-art facility in an 8,000-square-meter area excluding the dolphin encounter area.
The dolphin encounter area will “ideally be developed as a natural sea pen, not a manmade artificial pool, given the right water quality.” Between 10 and 15 healthy bottlenose dolphins from Mexico will be imported for the dolphinarium by plane once the facilities are completed.
For its substantial investment, the company requires a written contract with the Island Government that has a penalty clause for government in the event it removes its support for the project once the permits are given. The penalty will be the covering of all incurred expenses by the company to the date of withdrawing support, plus a US $3 million fine. For the company, a penalty will be imposed if it does not start construction within six months after all the permits are given.
For its investment, Atlantida wants the Island Government to assist “as much as possible” with the permit process, cooperation for the import permits for the dolphins, letter to the Mexican Environment authorities stating there is no inconvenience from government to import the dolphins, a tax relief programme in the event that a tax holiday is not approved, amongst other criteria.
The dolphinarium project has been vehemently opposed by animal rights activists on- and off-island since rumours of the project surfaced last year. A petition against the project with a few thousand signatures has been submitted to the Island Government.
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