St. Maarten Private Eye

Back in November last year, the Federal Government issued stricter guidelines for the establishment of a Dolphinarium in St. Maarten, on top of the 13 already issued. It would appear that Atlantida still has dreams of overcoming these conditions.
By the way, did you vote yet?

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A couple of weeks ago the Cayman Islands Tourism Association, presumably much like our own SHTA, announced that an online poll of its members had rejected the establishment of Dolphinariums in their islands.

Cayman Government studying CITA anti-dolphin stand - 21st March 2006

Cayman Islands Compass - 92% of readers oppose Dolphinariums - 19th March 2006

Cayman Islands Compass - Editorial - Dolphin study - 16th March 2006

Cayman Islands Tourism Association say's no to Dolphinariums - 15th March 2006

Meanwhile in Antigua, Dolphin Discoveries appears hopeful of re-opening this year despite The Antigua and Barbuda Independant Tourism Promotion Corporation's opposition.

Fight on against Dolphin Fantaseas’ return - 20th March 2006

Over in Mexico the government recently put in place new laws and restrictions on wildlife imports and exports, putting in to question the legality of Atlantida exporting them to St Maarten, if that is their plan.

Mexico Bans the Import, Export and Re-Export of Marine Mammals and Primates

If you want to read more about the Atlantida Soloman Dolphins then you could read this.

William Rossiter, Cetacean Society International President - Greed, Corruption and Captivity - October 2003

This was quite interesting too.

Wild Dolphins

That Atlantida would propose and still consider placing open water pens for Dolphins in Great Bay just baffles the imagination, the Exco supporting it does not of course, it's whats to be expected really.

It is a fact that the bay is highly poluted than there is a 1ft deep "cake" of very smelly and likely hazardous mud/sludge covering most of the triangle area between Bobby's, Chestfields and Hodge Pier in town.

Then we have Bobby's grand new plan of a mega yacht marina, condos and what not, along with the new tender and boat trip pier being built next to where Atlantida wants to place the pens, the noise factor makes the whole idea moronic and ridiculous. These animals largely see by using hearing and sounds and to have a constant drone day in and day out would drive any intelligent creature insane, humans too.

How does this reflect back upon Atlantida and the Executive Council? Feel free to share your thoughts.

What do I think? I think Atlantida are looking at other options such as pools or a new location perhaps somewhere like Simpson Bay. I also think they are waiting it out and that certain government commissioners have promised many things after the next New Status elections. Gracita and other opposition members quit sitting on the fence with this issue, waiting for new information. The information is already out there, now speak up.

As for the SHTA, their points for contributing to the debate about traffic have been wiped out by apparent support for this project. To those reading that are members, please speak up and urge Emil (corrected) Lee and others to follow the example set by The Caymans and Antigua.

We need an informed public debate on the Dolphinarium as much as we need it about traffic.

Flipper

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