St. Maarten Private Eye

SXM-Pride calls for “Sint Maarten Protected Areas Conservation Trust”

SXM Pride Foundation commends and echoes Councilman F. Richardson’s suggestion of allocating 50 cents of the soon to be applied increase in cruise passenger head tax for environmental protection and conservation projects.

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Sint Maarten’s unique and attractive natural/ cultural and historical characteristics are the island’s main economic resource and potential producer of tourism generated revenue for use in social, educational, infrastructure, environmental or conservation projects. One method of capturing this potential revenue is indeed by directly taxing tourists through for instance departure fees, arrival fees (for cruise ship passengers as in this case) and park admission fees (for hiking, diving, fishing licenses etc).

SXM-Pride Foundation recommends that government establishes a Conservation Trust fund dedicated to the protection and sustainable management of Sint Maarten’s Natural resources and protected areas. A preset percentage of revenue generated via for instance arrival or departure fees should then be allocated to this Trust. A new Foundation should be established with the sole purpose of administrating this new “St. Maarten Protected Areas Conservation Trust” or SXM-PACT. This Foundation should be comprised of representatives of each of the Island’s environmental NGO's, government representatives and an independent member.

The initiative can be modeled after the Belizean Protected Areas Conservation Trust (PACT) which became law as The Protected Areas Conservation Trust Act ( No. 15 of 1995 ) on January 2nd, 1996 and went into operation on June 1st of that same year. The PACT was set up to provide for the protection, conservation and enhancement of Belize's natural and cultural resources.

“The PACT is part of a nationwide cooperative effort to protect Belize's natural and cultural resources which also serve as a basis for the valuable tourist industry. A fee of BZ. $ 7.50 is charged as a conservation fee to all foreign visitors as part of this effort to finance Belize's conservation efforts. Amounts collected are paid directly into the trust fund as provided for in the legislation. This fee provides a manner to protect and conserve our natural and cultural resources for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations of Belizeans and visitors. Surveys have shown that this will not diminish the number of visitors coming to Belize but will in fact enhance Belize's image as a unique destination that cares deeply about conserving its natural and cultural resources”.

“The general functions of the Trust is to encourage and promote the Provision, Protection, Conservation and enhancement of the Natural and Cultural resources of Belize, in particular:
a.) Distribute grants to encourage, promote and assist the undertaking by suitable persons and bodies of research, studies or other activities relating to establish, operate, maintain and enhance protected areas and other natural and cultural protected resources for the purposes of conservation, maintenance of Biodiversity, protection of ecological processes and for recreational enjoyment.
b.) Assist in the funding of activities which are eligible for funding under the schedule to the Act.
c.) Perform other functions for the effective functioning of the Trust Fund”. (Protected Areas Conservation Trust Belize)

The Nature Foundation and the Sint Maarten Pride Foundation have recently joined forces in an effort to protect the Simpson Bay Lagoon from further degradation. As part of this effort the foundations have requested the Executive Council to place the Island of Little Key and a buffer zone of 100 meters surrounding the entire island in their protective custody for conservation purposes as part of the aforementioned Environmental Trust in a letter dated May 25th 2007. The foundations have requested the long lease rights to Little Key in order to further protect this small Island in the Lagoon as a nature haven for birds and fish.

The Little Key proposal was discussed with the Executive Council during a meeting on June 6th 2007 between St. Maarten’s Environmental Foundations and the incoming DP Faction in the Island Council in which the foundations presented their “Recommendations for addressing Sint Maarten’s Environmental challenges and for the improvement of the island’s Environmental legislation”. Initial responses from the Commissioner in charge appeared favorable.
The June 6th. Meeting between the DP Island Council members and the Nature Foundation and Sint Maarten PRIDE foundation was an invitation extended to both foundations by the government.

SXM Pride calls for Protected Areas Conservation trust fund - 28th June 2007

Frans suggests 50 cents per passenger for environment - 27th June 2007

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