Youth want govt to step up
environmental protection
BELAIR--“We might as well get rid of the whole [planning and building] permit issue because it is not being adhered to,” one passionate high school student told the gathering at the opening of EnviroWeek 2007 at Belair Community Centre Saturday.
Youngsters were invited by organisers, Caribbean Foundation for Sustainability, to share their views about the island’s general environmental state and offer suggestions regarding combating destruction and keeping development in check.
Their concerns and points of view were keenly listened to by Lt. Governor Franklyn Richards and a gathering of residents and environmental advocates. Richards said in the opening that this was a good time for youngsters and everyone in the community “to begin looking critically at what you can do and what your attitudes should be towards the air we breathe, climate change, pollution and waste as well as water.”
He challenged the gathering to change everyday habits and practice pollution prevention, reduce home energy use, buy and use green products.
The group of some 20 youngsters were strong in their call for proper and enforced zoning regulations to keep developers and residents in check while protecting the natural environment.
Another teen remarked that if construction continued unchecked and out of balance with the environment, the island might as well say goodbye to its visitors, who are trying to escape from congested cities and want a tropical atmosphere.
A better and effective transportation system was proposed as a way to combat the almost crippling traffic congestion and to lower emissions. The youngsters suggested that the approach would result in fewer vehicles on the road. Another related recommendation was steady public transportation to the beaches, which should continue to be protected and remain accessible to the public; a stance the youngsters were firm on.
Government was also taken to task by the youngsters as well as environmentalist Rueben Thompson. The environmentalist said there was a definite lack of political willpower to tackle and solve environmental issues. He pointed out that no politician had thought it fit to attend the forum to hear the views of the youths and share their plans.
Thompson was one of four experts taking part in the forum. Others included coral reef specialist Tom Goreau and Olivia Lake of the Government Department of Environmental Policy VROM.
EnviroWeek continued Sunday with a hike to Guana Bay, coordinated by St. Maarten Heritage Foundation.
In the evening, Goreau made a presentation on reef restoration. This was coupled with information on BioRock by Ocean Care Foundation in Philipsburg Theatres. A year ago, Goreau, Ocean Care and The Sky’s the Limit Foundation worked on creating a reef off Little Bay using BioRock a structure design to stimulate coral growth.
Today’s highlights are presentations on “How is St. Maarten portrayed to the outside world” by Damir Brdjanovic of UNESCO-IHE, and “Protecting Sea Turtle nesting beaches” by Beverly Nisbeth of Nature Foundation in Belair Community Centre at 7:00pm.
