Local groups are elated about
scrapped dolphinarium plans
PHILIPSBURG--Animal welfare and rights groups and environmental organisations want government to develop a policy or law to restrict any future plans involving the exploitation of animals for the purpose of business or entertainment.
This was prompted by news that the planned dolphinarium for St. Maarten had been halted for now.
While this was welcome news, the groups that had protested intensely against dolphins in captivity hope that the strict criteria set by the Central Government Environmental Policy Department continue to dissuade dolphinarium or sea creature attraction companies from wanting to set up operations here.
Monique Hofman, president of Animals R Friends Foundation, told The Daily Herald her group was very happy with the news and hoped the Central and Island Governments would stick to the strict criteria laid out for Atlantida, the Mexico-based company that wanted to set up the dolphinarium here.
The constant pressure and lobbying against the dolphinarium by local, regional and international groups, the thousands of people who signed the petition, and the government criteria had made the difference, she said.
A complete stop on any such project for the Netherlands Antilles needs to be enshrined in a policy so that future such ventures will be discouraged, Hofman added.
A law prohibiting the importation of dolphins, other sea creatures and land animals needs to be drafted, said Elaine Pollack of Ocean Care, who is also delighted about the scrapped dolphinarium plans.
St. Maarten Animal Welfare Foundation is “very pleased” with the news, said representative Suzanne Armitage, who was in the forefront lobbying against the project.
A water park should be considered for the Economic Development Corporation land adjacent to Dr. A.C. Wathey Cruise and Cargo Facilities that was pinpointed for the dolphinarium, she added. A water park would “be beneficial” to residents and tourists.
“Smiling from ear to ear” was how animal rights advocate Mercedes de Windt described her reaction to news of the scrapped dolphinarium. De Windt, along with the groups and with the support of international animal rights/welfare groups, had run a tireless campaign to halt the dolphinarium.
Stating that the strict 13-point Central Government criteria were the main reason for the scrapping of the project, De Windt said she hoped the criteria would remain intact to fend off any similar projects in the future.
Looking to St. Maarten becoming a country within the Dutch Kingdom, she said the criteria should be taken a step further by enacting a law that prohibited the importation of any animal for commercial or entertainment purposes.
Environmental group St. Maarten Pride Foundation is also elated by the news and hopes that the set criteria are upheld to prevent any future animal entertainment ventures. A law is necessary to outline that no dolphinarium or similar project will be allowed in St. Maarten, especially as the island moves toward the status of country within the Dutch Kingdom, Pride President Jadira Veen said.
Nature Foundation St. Maarten marine park manager Beverly Mae Nisbeth had no official comment as yet on the scrapping of the project.
The Daily Herald learnt that the project was halted from a well-placed source. Veterinarian Chris de Witt also announced the scrapping of the project in one of his recent animal care columns printed in WEEKender. (Alita Singh)
St Maarten vacation rental
