St. Maarten Private Eye - Environment

The Hills are alive......

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 21:36:57 -0800

...with the sound of backhoes and construction if Roy has his way. Not content with the environmental damage he has already caused, he is now aiming to develop the hills. It sort of got missed in the drama of Laveist, but in the IC meeting of 3rd November, a motion was presented for a subdivision that I am told would run against the Hill Side Policy. It seems that some developers in St Johns want some exemptions and Roy, as usual, is happy to accommodate.

See the video at the link below (you'll have to pause the podcast audio). The motion was supported by Mr "Real Estate" DeWeever who claims that local young people would have a chance to own a plot, Maria supported it, presumably Sarah too. The vote was null and void as the NA did not vote. I would very much like to know more about this subdivision, can anyone out there tell us more?

Needless to say, making an exception would open the door to more exceptions, I expect we will see this issue back up for a vote again soon.

See the video here.

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Climate Change Roundup - The stakes are too high

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 18:46:10 -0800

There are still a few stragglers out there who keep clinging to the belief Climate Change is a hoax, a plot by liberals and caused by natural cycles of the planet. It doesn't matter to them that the scientific community, data and evidence are almost conclusively against them. Thankfully for us all, there is a new incoming president of the US who does trust in science, data and rational thinking.

"My presidency will mark a new chapter in America’s leadership on climate change that will strengthen our security and create millions of new jobs in the process."

"And once I take office, you can be sure that the United States will once again engage vigorously in these negotiations, and help lead the world toward a new era of global cooperation on climate change. Now is the time to confront this challenge once and for all. Delay is no longer an option. Denial is no longer an acceptable response. The stakes are too high. The consequences, too serious."

Obama's speech to the Governors Global Climate Summit.

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EPIC event at the Dawn Beach Westin

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 18:26:32 -0800

There has been a little confusion and a few questions being asked about the fundraising event for EPIC that was held at Westin this past weekend. Please find below an email received from Rueben J. Thompson in response to these concerns.

Hopefully the board of EPIC will pay more attention to their representatives in future, and who knows, maybe we'll have an Environment Commissioner who listens too. You should apply for the job Rueben. I heard the event was rather quiet and few if any environmentalists were there. Rather sad really, it's nice for people to try to raise money for foundations and organizations, but they should have given this location a bit more thought.

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Hola from Barcelona IUCN Congress

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 05:56:36 -0700

As a result of a family health situation I am currently in Barcelona, Spain. Unknown to me before planning my trip was that the IUCN Congress would be held here at the same time, I am now writing from the Media Room at the Conference Center.

The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) is the world’s oldest and largest global environmental network - a democratic membership union with more than 1,000 government and NGO member organizations, and almost 11,000 volunteer scientists in more than 160 countries. The Congress, held every 4 years, is huge, over 8000 people are attending and there are over 900 events, workshops, forums, presentations and more over the next 4 days.

I'm not officially representing any SXM NGO, but those who read here know that my interest is mainly on the environment and Climate Change. I will be trying to attend anything that I think may be beneficial to my writing knowledge, our island's NGO's and I will try to write something here daily. Please visit the IUCN Congress Website and feel free to make recommendations or ask questions.

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Beware The Green Fraudsters

Sat, 27 Sep 2008 13:33:45 -0700

George MacGee's comment about Green Carjackers has given me an excellent excuse to browse back through SXM PE archives and blogs. You all should do it sometime, so many interesting things we forgot about, the laughs and tears, the scandals and memories...

George is right, there are Green Carjackers out there, unfortunately for them, we now have records and files and we know who they are.

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International Coastal Cleanup September 20, 2008

Sun, 14 Sep 2008 13:35:05 -0700

Jadira asked to open a Blog on the upcoming international coastal cleanup on Saturday, September 20, 2008. Please find the 2007 ICC report attached in Pdf format along with an article and radio interview on PJD2 here.

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Dredger spotted destroying Simpson Bay Lagoon

Thu, 28 Aug 2008 16:48:53 -0700

EPIC and SXM Pride Press release

On Tuesday August 26th, 2008 St. Maarten Pride Foundation and EPIC received word that a Dredger was seen removing large quantities of sand from the Simpson Bay Lagoon and depositing it on the Island of Little Key.

Foundation volunteers arrived at Little Key to investigate the reports and took several pictures of the dredger in action before its Captain ceased operations, boarded another vessel and hurried it back to its home port in an attempt to avoid further inquires by aforementioned volunteers. The Foundations have learnt that the dredger was in the process of digging a deep channel to a Marina located behind the Airport parking lot.

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Poisoning the People

Fri, 01 Aug 2008 16:31:08 -0700

Last week the island was again subjected to clouds of smoke from our dump, I swear it's like one of those candles that you blow out and it relights itself. The only way to really put it out is to wet your fingers and stop the smoking and smoldering, something that the dump management (Windward Roads? I don't know, these companies all change names so often), Mr Buncamper and the fire department just don't seem to get. The dump is still smoking and smoldering today, blaming it on scavengers is an old and very tired excuse that is not only weak, but implies that they are incapable of keeping the dump secure.

SXM Pride's press release warning of the health concerns of dump smoke is accurate, in fact, if you really look into the matter you will not only be very concerned, but also very angry that it keeps on happening. If you really want to know more about what you and your children are breathing every time the dump burns, then read on.

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Spatial Planning - Govt offices full.

Mon, 28 Jul 2008 02:14:28 -0700

The only way this study will be of any use to the island is if it is published, fully and unedited and undoctored, online, for the public to see, the students promise to so. Our govt has resisted zoning, environmental and spatial planning for decades and there are plenty of studies and reports, on development, education, crime and many other issues, that have been ignored or kept out of the public domain, we don't need another.

I look forwards to reading it and hearing more about their 'jollifications'.

Daily Herald Editorial - What’s the hold-up? - 25th July 2008

Dutch students on spatial development study - 24th July 2008

Dutch team to help with Spacial planning - 24th July 2008

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Red Cross in financial hole.

Mon, 28 Jul 2008 02:06:32 -0700

For most of us, the news that the SXM Red Cross is in financial trouble doesn't really mean a great deal, if you are reading this then most likely you are well off enough to be living in a home you are relatively comfortable with or have somewhere safe to go in a storm. This isn't about you, it is about the people at the lowest level in our society, the ones living in plywood shacks, shacks which were supposed to be eliminated after Luis.

The Red Cross supplements the services the Govt provides at shelters and you would be guessing right if you assume that isn't a great deal, few if any of the shelters even have generator and old, young and sick people could be packed away in dark and dangerous conditions.

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The Economy, Energy and Development

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 05:11:42 -0700

It was just over a year ago that I wrote a blog about the SXM condo market being past it's prime. Less than two weeks afterwards the island's Economic Affairs Dept reported a positive assessment of the real estate market with a nice big bold headline. Remarkable coincidence eh?

Just like in the US, where Dubya and McSame are trying to convince the public that everything is just fine and that really, it's mainly psychological and people whinging, if only people would think positive then things would look better, we have the same here. Only problem is, the facts keep intruding.

SXM economy to be stable next 2 years - 24th May 2008

Maria: Island's economy successful and resilient - 25th March 2008

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Climate Change and World Resources - Update

Fri, 01 Aug 2008 16:53:48 -0700

It's been a while since I wrote a blog rounding up the news on Climate Change and I had tons of links saved up in my bookmarks, it was time to clear them out.

Below you will find a selection of news and video links that I think are well worth checking out, I've added many more to the SXM PE Global Warming / Global Resources Thread. i don't time to write much about them now, but I think most of them speak for themselves anyway. Feel free to add your own links and comments below.

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GEBE & Geothermal energy

Sun, 22 Jun 2008 04:13:24 -0700

From West Indies Power Holding BV

"Geothermal Power is the use of super heated hot water and steam located in the Earth (Geothermal Resources) which are extracted by specially designed wells (Well field) and allowed to convert to steam when it reaches the surface. That steam is then collected in pipes (Gathering System) and sent to a geothermal steam turbine which uses the steam to generate electricity (Power Plant)."

Let me start by stating that I am not in any way affiliated with West Indies Power Holding BV or do I seek to do so. I am an objective observer and a consumer of GEBE electricity and am of the opinion that GEBE is currently overcharging their customers and do little (nothing) to seek ways of reducing the price of electricity.

From recent reports in The Daily Herald, one can gather that local energy and water supplying company GEBE has been made an offer by Nevis based West Indies Power to buy geothermal derived energy (= clean energy) but up to this point (June 19th, 2008) GEBE has not responded to their offer of buying clean energy from them.

Why, you ask. Please read on.

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Dump the Dump Management

Mon, 02 Jun 2008 23:02:04 -0700

Does anyone out there know how, or is able to, get hold of a copy of the Dump Management agreement/contract Windward Roads has with the Island Govt?

Personally, I think it's time they were fired, either they are lousy managers or they are doing the job on the cheap and not hiring enough staff to look after the dump.

And the Fire department needs checking into too. Time and time again we suffer the toxic and poisonous smoke from fires, fires that are often seen starting small and are left for days until they become bigger and harder to control.

Video - Great Saltpond Landfill burning May 29, 2008

On Line Petition Here.

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Enviro Week - EWE - 4-8 June 2008

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 19:42:23 -0700

Imagine... a park full of green products and services that will help St. Maarten become a bit more of a nature friendly island and a more livable island for the younger generation. With our eco-expo we make it a reality and you can even participate with your green products or services.

A solar cooker contest, a car that runs on water (French Lycee), a car that runs on biofuel, local biological food, green cleaning products, wood crafting, local natural art, solar heaters, water saving and energy saving products, water from air and a raffle. There will also be workshops in between with related to agriculture, solar power, energy and water saving and some interesting keynote speakers. Details, updates and press releases below.

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