SXM Pride Awards - January 2007 - Photos

Please find photos below taken by Ludwig of the SXM PRIDE New Year party January 6th. 2007 at the beautiful Loterie Farm Tree lounge.

4 persons were recognised by the PRIDE foundatation for their exceptional service and dedication to the environment.

1.Clean St.Maarten N.V. - The guys that clean the roadsides, they make sure our island is litter free. the company has been the longest sponsor of the SXM PRIDE foundation since it's inception. They haul our full trash bags off to the dump after beach and community cleanups.

2. Irving Esdaille. - Environmental and Sanitation Inspector, he works for the Public Works department. A civil servant that has the environment at heart, he is a tough and strong advocate for ridding the island of trash, sewage and making sure people understand the strong arm of law. He is an extra-ordinary policeman and is allowed to
give fines to pollutors. Esdaille has helped PRIDE with combatting running sewage complaints in residential neighborhoods, picking up illegal billboards, he has given anti-litter lectures to school students on behalf of the SXM PRIDE foundation.

3. Mercedes de Windt - Animal advocate and activist. Mercedes is the fuel behind the movement to halt the swim with the dolphin project. She was instrumental in bringing all the enviro groups together to bring attention to the negative affects such a facility would have on the environment and the behaviour of the mammals. Mercedes is an independant animal advocate that has used countless hours to write to government, getting all enviro groups to sign many of the letters to local and Federal government.
She has over 4000 correspondense between Local and Federal government, along with International animal rights and welfare groups, all done in the interest of the animals and their welfare. Mercedes has also brought attention to the Giraffe that was stranded on St.Maarten for 6 months after a traveling circus left him behind.

4. Dwight Barran. - Mr. Barran has produced Profiles of the Windward Islands television program for 25 years, the Profiles anniversery was last October. Mr. Dwight has been an outspoken critic of the destruction to the environment with his program that is geared towards environment, culture and heritage. Mr. Barran has built up a huge library of video archives that spans the 25 years growth of St. Maarten.
his archives include many former and late politicians, many of the local protests that shaped the islands history during the economic growth of the island. Interviews with many old timers that are now deceased. Mr. Barran has always made his program available to the local environmental and animal groups for educational and awareness purposes.

SXM Pride

Photos from the event below.