Four honoured by
Pride Foundation
PHILIPSBURG--St. Maarten Pride Foundation honoured four persons for their exceptional service and dedication to the environment during its New Year’s Party at Loterie Farm’s Tree Lounge on Saturday.
Honoured were Dwight Barran, Clean St. Maarten N.V., Irving Esdaille and Mercedes de Windt.
Clean St. Maarten, which tidies the roadsides and ensures the island is litter-free, has been the longest sponsor of the Pride Foundation. The company removes and transports bags full of trash to the landfill after Pride’s community cleanups. The award was accepted by the Clean St. Maarten Manager Harms Wennekes.
Esdaille, an Environmental and Sanitation Inspector at Public Works Department, was recognised for being a civil servant with “the environment at heart.” He was described as being a tough and strong advocate for ridding the island of trash and sewage, and making sure people understand the strong arm of law. Esdaille is also an extra-ordinary policeman who is allowed to fine polluters. Esdaille has helped Pride to combat running sewage complaints in residential neighbourhoods, has removed illegal billboards and has delivered anti-litter lectures to students on behalf of the Foundation.
De Windt is the fuel behind the movement to halt the swim with the dolphin project which was discontinued on St. Maarten. She was instrumental in bringing all the environmental groups together to shed light on the negative effects the facility would have had on the environment had it been implemented. “Mercedes is an independent animal advocate who has used countless hours to write to government, getting all environ groups to sign many of the letters to local and Federal government,” Pride said. “She has over 4,000 correspondences between local and Central government, along with international animal rights and welfare groups, all done in the interest of the animals and their welfare.”
Barran, whose plaque was accepted by his son Charles, has produced television programme Profiles of the Windward Islands for some 25 years. The programme celebrated its silver anniversary last October. “Barran has been an outspoken critic of much of the destruction to the environment with his programme which is geared towards environment, culture and heritage,” said Pride. The Foundation said he has built up a large library of video archives that spans the 25 years growth of St. Maarten.
Pride President Jadira Veen said the Foundation is grateful to Loterie Farm for sponsoring the cocktail party.
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