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Destroying Cats,Turtles, and Coral Reefs

It has not been a good day today for environmental lovers and animal lovers. The news in TDH about the Maze coral reef being badly damaged by some boat was disheartening to say the least. They destroyed coral that took 15 years to grow.

Then there was the other article in TDH about someone on Great Bay Beach trying to sell baby hawksbill turtles that had just emerged from the nest. At least this story has happy ending, as someone called the Nature Foundation and they were able to save the turtles, and re-release them into the sea.

And then I receive an email that the owner of the Summit Hotel poisoned 30 cats to get rid of them. Is that the only way to get rid of them? Poison them? I do not understand this kind of thinking, although it may be that they only used animal repellent rather than poison. I hope that is true.

(The owner of Summit has posted a comment below reporting that they did use repellent and not poison - Flipper)

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It's important to make people aware of environmental issues and to make them stop to think before they are so cruel to animals. The environmental groups and the animal groups are doing a fantastic job. They are a dedicated group of people. So much more is needed though. People need to be educated and informed and that is a never ending job. Sometimes it must feel like a hopeless job.

Barbara

Barbara's Blog

Environment | barcann's blog | add new comment

Submitted by barcann on Wed, 2008-01-30 16:34.

update on cats from Summit...
barcann | Wed, 2008-01-30 17:27

Bruce Jakubovitz of Summit Hotel posted this on TTOL forum:

This is Bruce Jakubovitz, owner of the Summit Hotel writing. Before things spin any further out of control here, I think it is important that you all be told the facts about the cat situation at the Summit. Right now you are all reading, responding to and unfairly forwarding completely false rumors. Let me state this as simply and as clearly as possible. There has not been any poisoning of cats at the Summit Hotel.

To those of you who are forwarding this irresponsible lie to others, I request that you stop immediately. Not only are you spreading a lie, you are unfairly damaging the reputation of a business that has operated peacefully on Sint Maarten for 35 years.

To those of you who may have wondered, how could this be happening? I am happy to tell you that it is not.

To those of you who are worried about Chloe and Thierry's cats, I am happy to report that I spoke with Chloe moments ago and she reports that all of her cats are fine. Of course they are. There is no reason for them to be otherwise. There has not been any poisoning going on.

To those of you who chose to believe a wild lie and to forward it rather than trying to find out the truth first, all I can say is that I am disappointed in you. Perhaps it is more fun for you to participate in rumor mongering than it is to learn the truth but all you are doing is unfairly harming an honestly run and decently managed business on the island.

Again, there has been no poisoning of cats at the Summit.

We do indeed have a cat over population problem that we are trying to address but we are doing so by using an all natural, 100% biodegradeable, poison and chemical free cat repellent that is commercially available in the US. This is being sprayed on the grounds to encourage the cats to move elsewhere.

If you have any questions, please feel free to post them on here and I will respond. I have been visiting Sint Maarten for over 35 years and have a deep love and appreciation for the island, its people and its animals, including its cats. To accuse me of poisoning any is not only slanderous but personally hurtful.

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Govt setting poor example
Local Hero | Thu, 2008-01-31 20:13

Thank you for posting the message from Summit Hotel Barbara, it's good to know they didn't use poison, perhaps you should have a word with that person who sent you the email saying they had. It's important to try to confirm things as best you can before writing about them and the Summit have every right to be upset about this apparently false claim.

That said, your post touches upon something I want to share here. When it comes to respect for the environment and animals, it is the govt that should be setting an example. The fact that our govt appears to care nothing for either does not inspire the people of the island to have it. All we get is talk and false promises, these foundations have been fighting for rights, protections and zoning for years and the govt has done nothing.

Nothing is going to change until there are politicians who care about these things. Those of us out here who do care need to start looking for candidates for the possible Parliament of SXM elections, likely this year or early next. I do not believe this IC will complete it's full term. There needs to be a green party and if the right minds got behind it then I see the possibility of several seats and influence in a new Govt. This is the only way things will change.

My humble opinion.

LH

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