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St. Maarten’s environmental challenges symptomatic of a larger problem
The Daily Herald - Dear Editor,
Please allow me to review the state of St. Maarten's environment on behalf of EPIC, St. Maarten Pride Foundation and the Emilio Wilson Estate Foundation on this 22nd day of April, 2010 – the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, which coincides with St. Maarten Pride Foundation's 10th anniversary.
Our National Anthem describes St. Maarten as being "So bright by beach and strand" and "Where the chains of mountains green, variously in sunlight sheen" yet the reality of today's St. Maarten is somewhat different:
Sewage, leakage from septic tanks and urban run-off flood the streets of many of St. Maarten's neighbourhoods and flow towards the island's natural treasure chests and economic products: ponds, lagoons, beaches and coral reefs. These same sewage-covered streets are more often than not adorned with solid waste, ranging from car wrecks to a multitude of bottles, plastic bags and other domestic garbage.
MEASURES TAKEN TO PREVENT FUTURE OIL SPILLS.
SMNN -
CAY BAY— GEBE is taking the necessary measures to prevent future oil spills. MH-Maintenance has been contracted and is currently executing the laying of boulders for an oil boom fixation as well as containment walls. These infrastructural works should be completed by the end of April, including the deployment of the oil containment boom. Two isolating valves for clean water discharges are being installed which would allow for the immediate closure of the drains in the event of overloading of the waste management system. The installation is also expected to be completed by the end of April. Both of the aforementioned measures were already planned prior to the first oil spill that took place a few months ago.[More....]
Rueben: GEBE needs oil spill response team
The Daily Herald - CAY BAY--Friday's oil spill in Cay Bay, the second largest in over a month, has left the environmental community fuming because nothing much is being done by utilities company GEBE to prevent continued pollution of the bay.
Environmental activist of Environmental Protection in the Caribbean (EPIC) and St. Maarten Pride Foundation Rueben Thompson is again outraged with yet another spill. "This is the second largest one in more than a month but it is one of many for this year."
Rueben: GEBE needs oil spill response team
The Daily Herald - CAY BAY--Friday's oil spill in Cay Bay, the second largest in over a month, has left the environmental community fuming because nothing much is being done by utilities company GEBE to prevent continued pollution of the bay.
Environmental activist of Environmental Protection in the Caribbean (EPIC) and St. Maarten Pride Foundation Rueben Thompson is again outraged with yet another spill. "This is the second largest one in more than a month but it is one of many for this year."
Congratulations Rueben Thompson
The Daily Herald - Dear Editor,
Please allow me to congratulate my young friend Rueben Thompson on being awarded the 2009 Ewan P. McFarlane Award for Outstanding Leadership in the Insular Caribbean.
Environmentalists are a rare breed. In our small island societies, it is rare to find local people concerned about the environment. But Rueben, Jadira and others are proof that local people do not need to be lectured to by people coming from the polluted industrial world they left behind.
Harbour urges GEBE to clean up act after oil spill
The Daily Herald - CAY BAY--A second oil spill for the year in Cay Bay occurred Friday and appears to have been caused by utilities company GEBE again. This time, St. Maarten Harbour Group of Companies has taken a strong stance.
Harbour CEO/Master Mark Mingo is demanding GEBE make the necessary changes to prevent this from happening again and ensure it is properly equipped for quick response in an emergency. This demand is also to be formally addressed with the company.
Rueben J. Thompson gets environmental award
The Daily Herald - PHILIPSBURG--Environmentalist Rueben Thompson is the recipient of the 2009 Euan P. McFarlane Award for Outstanding Environmental Leadership in the Insular Caribbean.
Thompson was nominated by Environmental Protection in the Caribbean (EPIC) President Natalia Collier, supported by Paul Hoetjes of the Environment and Nature Department in Curaçao. The award was presented in Barbados on Monday.
As Thompson was unable to attend because of prior commitments, an EPIC board member collected the award for him at the annual general meeting of the Caribbean Conservation Association.
Cay Bay oil spill still not cleared
SXM Island Times - CAY BAY--Rodrick Carty of the Seaside Nature Park has brought to the attention of The Daily Herald that the oil spill on the Cay Bay beach near his establishment caused by a fault in electricity company GEBE's waste treatment system last week Thursday has not yet been cleared up.
Carty observed the oil being washed up onto the beach front Wednesday afternoon when heavy swells engulfed the area. According to Reuben Thompson of St. Maarten Pride Foundation, the oil that had soaked into the sand in the ocean as a result of sedimentation is now being stirred up by the heavy swells.
Cay Bay beach contaminated
The Daily Herald - ~ As GEBE waste treatment system malfunctions ~
CAY BAY--Oil oozing through a pipe that conveys the cooling water for electricity company GEBE's generators back into the sea resulted in major contamination of the Cay Bay beach yesterday.
GEBE explained in a press statement that its waste treatment system (WTS) normally skimmed off any waste oil from the production process before it could reach the environment.
Frans Okays Environmental Code of Conduct Project
PHILIPSBURG - Commissioner of Tourism, Frans Richardson has expressed satisfaction at a pilot project that would soon see environmental code of conduct signage displayed at some of our most frequented beaches and marinas. "This is a much needed project that will help us to preserve our environment for future generations to also enjoy and make our tourism product to remain competitive," the Commissioner commented when the pilot project was recently presented to him. "It certainly has my full support," he said.[More....]
