~ Key for our future as a Caribbean nation ~
Dear Editor,
A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to take part in BDO Dutch-Caribbean’s Panel Discussion on St. Maarten’s need to transition into a Blue, Green and Digital Economy. Although many exciting and encouraging things were said during the event I am, as always when it comes to these sorts of things, a bit concerned that after the pretty words and good intentions the things which were said and the commitments which were made will fall on the wayside. Which would be a shame.
As St. Maarten, hopefully, strives to transition to a green, blue, digital, and resilient economy, it is crucial to strike a balance between economic development and environmental conservation. This delicate equilibrium requires a comprehensive approach that considers the needs and concerns of local communities, promotes collaboration between the government and private sector, and leverages the unique natural resources and biodiversity of this island which we call home.
First and foremost, we must increase the aligning of our national efforts with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which provide a solid framework for integrating economic, social, and environmental dimensions of development. By setting clear targets and working towards achieving these goals, St. Maarten can ensure a balanced approach to our (sustainable) development.
Emphasizing the development and implementation of blue and green technologies and innovation is another essential strategy. By encouraging the adoption of sustainable practices and investing in research and development, St. Maarten can drive economic growth while minimizing its environmental impact.
Promoting a circular economy is also crucial. This entails minimizing waste, encouraging a reduction of our solid waste (and finally implementing a ban on single-use plastics. I am all about communication and inclusion but the data has shown that the only effective way to reduce plastic waste is a top-down ban; once plastic is available it will be used no matter how conscientious the consumer) and using resources efficiently throughout the production and consumption cycle. By transitioning towards a circular economy, St. Maarten can reduce its ecological footprint and create a more sustainable future.
Accelerating the adoption of renewable energy sources, such as solar, wind, and hydropower, is paramount. Offering incentives for businesses and individuals to invest in renewable energy infrastructure, while phasing out subsidies for fossil fuels, can drive the transition towards a cleaner and more sustainable energy system.
Sustainable forest management and supporting responsible agricultural practices play a vital role in conservation efforts. By implementing sustainable practices like organic farming, agroforestry, and precision agriculture, St. Maarten can preserve biodiversity and ecosystem services while supporting local food production.
Protecting and restoring natural habitats, including forests, wetlands, and marine ecosystems, will be crucial for preserving biodiversity. Establishing protected areas and promoting sustainable tourism practices can ensure the long-term sustainability of these ecosystems while providing economic opportunities for the local community. Unfortunately I must remind the reader that St. Maarten is the only island in the region without a protected area on land.
Additionally, implementing strong environmental regulations and standards is essential to hold businesses accountable for their environmental impact. Offering incentives such as tax breaks, grants, and subsidies can encourage companies to adopt sustainable practices and contribute to the green transition. These should be offered to businesses and individuals that make the effort to be “green” or “blue” and not to the gambling sector for example, regardless of casino bosses political patronage.
Raising awareness among individuals, communities, and businesses about the importance of environmental conservation and the benefits of a green economy is also crucial. Promoting environmental education and encouraging sustainable lifestyles can drive behavior change and foster a culture of sustainability, something which St. Maarten desperately needs.
Also, collaboration and partnerships are key to the success of the green transition. By involving governments, businesses, civil society organizations, and academia in decision-making processes, St. Maarten can ensure that diverse perspectives are considered and sustainable strategies are developed and implemented. By encouraging investments in “green” and “blue” projects and businesses through financial mechanisms like green bonds, blue carbon offset schemes, and sustainable investment funds, St. Maarten can attract the necessary capital to drive sustainable development.
In addition to addressing the broader transition to a “green” and “blue” economy, it is crucial to consider the needs and concerns of local communities, especially vulnerable populations. Engaging and involving these communities from the outset through stakeholder engagement, community assessments, and capacity-building initiatives is vital for an inclusive transition.
Finally, tailoring laws, policies and programs to address the unique circumstances and preferences of local communities and vulnerable populations is essential. By ensuring affordability, accessibility, and cultural relevance, St. Maarten can create an enabling environment for these communities to participate fully in the green economy. We also need to increase the effectiveness of our legal systems; St. Maarten has no requirement for Environmental Impact Assessments, again one of the few islands in the region to not have one. And finally the Beach and Hillside Policy should be enacted into law so as to ensure that our beaches are free of harmful economic activity and accessible to all of our population and not just a select few. And of course our hillside policy should also be translated into law which must include a terrestrially protected area so as to ensure that the goods and services provided by our land can benefit our future generations and will not run the risk of being turned into another hot, concrete stain on our beautiful island of St. Maarten.
Tadzio Bervoets
Conservation Professional
By Alex Rosaria
I still remember seeing our flag hoisted for the first time in 1984. The blue symbolising the sea and the sky, the yellow stroke representing the sun and the stars symbolising the five continents from which people have arrived on our island. The white colours of the stars standing for peace.
Do people still see the colours and what they represent? Or has the flag been stained beyond recognition?
The flag in my memory stood tall and proud. It celebrated the togetherness of all. Today, a minority group still lives in inequality under the law just because they want to be free to carry on their lives irrespective of their preferences.
I remember being able to freely sit on my parents’ balcony in Santa Rosa, walk outside, and see jovial faces. I can’t see them any more because they don’t leave their caged homes. I can’t hear them because they are afraid to speak out. The free and independent press incessantly questioning our choices and democratic deficits have been silenced by money and power. I remember us being proud of welcoming people looking for a bright future here. Today, we curse them, imprison them, take away their rights and bully them. If you care to listen, you’ll hear people speak about the appalling conditions in which they live, sometimes in hushed voices.
Were we not supposed to be born with the right to be free and equal with the same opportunities, no matter where we came from, what we believe in, and how we choose to live our lives? Were we not supposed to have capable and honest democratic leaders to look after our common interests?
I cannot recognise our flag any more. It is covered with ugly stains.
Alex David Rosaria (53) is a freelance consultant active in Asia & Pacific. He is a former Member of Parliament, Minister of Economic Affairs, State Secretary of Finance and UN Implementation Officer in Africa and Central America. He’s from Curaçao and has an MBA from the University of Iowa (USA)
Dear Editor,
This year we will be celebrating Emancipation Day for the third time on Saba. It has been 160 years since slavery was abolished in the Dutch colonies. Many of us know of the Emancipation Day celebrations across the region and it is with this in mind that we have decided to observe this historic day on Saba. We should never forget the history of our island and know that freedom is not free but that it was paid by those who came before us.
While it is impossible for us to atone for slavery and the impact it had on our ancestors, it is feasible for us to reflect on the progress we have seen on Saba. Therefore, let us look how far Saba has advanced, where we all are able to inhabit this beautiful island, the unspoiled Queen, with equal opportunities regardless of color.
Slavery for some may seem a thing of the past, but it is not, for people are still held in bondage in different ways in present times, by poverty, incessant wars, and the abuse of those who cannot fight back. We should continue to be informed of the issues many people face even though they may seem worlds away.
Let us rise to the occasion in commemorating this event that would have closed a very painful chapter in our past that many Saban forefathers endured under the system of slavery. As we commemorate this day in history, I want to draw upon the wisdom of Karl Marx “Every emancipation is the restoration of the human world and of human relationships to man himself.”
Happy Emancipation Day!
Island Council member Rolando Wilson
Dear Editor,
There was recently a letter to the editor by Mr. George Pantophlet, long time MP and leading figure in area of economic affairs. He suggested that the best thing was for the Netherlands to convert the St. Maarten debt to a grant. He is not wrong that in the short term that would be very convenient. Every other developing country globally would like to have their debt forgiven too.
When an MP of St. Maarten makes such a suggestion it might make sense to those whose economic thinking is simplistic. It is, however, highly negative for the image of the country.
The point of financing developing nations by rich countries is to inject funds that will create the institutions and systems that will ensure that these countries are able to function effectively without deficits and the building up of debt. There are those that would argue otherwise and claim different motivations but mostly without good evidence.
It is certainly not the intention that rich country governments have been instructed by their electorate to fund deficits in poorly managed countries with their domestic tax income. Unfortunately, the Dutch [Caribbean – Ed.] part of the Kingdom is regarded as being poorly managed event though we may believe (and I do) that we have made great strides and have increasingly robust institutions.
When an MP of our parliament, especially one from the dominant coalition partner that is a leading light in economic affairs, exposes his lack of understanding of development goals, this negatively impacts the perception of St. Maarten elsewhere.
Robbie Ferron
~ Make ‘Cooling Centers’ part of the Resilience Agenda ~
Dear Editor,
Extreme heat warnings are becoming the norm and not the exception. People are dying from the heat. Last year in Europe, extreme heat claimed 20,000 lives between June and August.
Some of the ways to survive extreme heat are limiting outdoor activity, staying hydrated, keeping homes cool, checking on the elderly and young children.
What about the Caribbean? Have we been experiencing extreme heat? Have you noticed a change in the weather? Should we start planning for the future where extreme heat is concerned? I think we should. Better to be prepared and ready rather than dealing with the consequences thereafter.
Europe for example has been warming twice as fast as the global average since the 1980s. The State of the Climate in Europe 2022 report shows that decades of global heating has resulted in extreme heat, drought, wildfires, marine heatwaves, and glacier melt.
Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom had their warmest year on record last year, and the summer in Europe was the hottest ever recorded.
This cannot be considered as a one-off occurrence or an oddity of the climate. The 2022 annual average temperature for Europe was between the second and fourth highest on record, with an anomaly of about 0.79 °C above the 1991–2020 average.
Sint Maarten since 2018 has been in a phase of resilience building after the massive damage caused by Hurricane Irma in September 2017. New buildings have been constructed or re-enforced; human capital has received training; investments have been made in resources and vehicles, and the resilience building is expected to continue as the Sint Maarten Trust Fund still has some funds available to be invested this year and beyond.
As a country, we need to be prepared for other events that will have far-reaching consequences. Climate change is taking a major human, economic and environmental toll according to the report.
The report adds: “Average Sea surface temperatures across the North Atlantic were the warmest on record and large portions of the region’s seas were affected by powerful marine heatwaves. The rates of surface ocean warming, particularly in the eastern Mediterranean, the Baltic, the Black Sea, and the southern Arctic, were more than three times the global average.”
Hazards from warmer temperatures, such as rising sea levels and more frequent and extreme weather events, make the Caribbean the most vulnerable sub-region.
As a nation we must continue to build upon our resilience agenda. Public and private sectors as well as Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) need to come together and consider the establishment of “cooling centers” within the community for senior citizens, families with children and other vulnerable members of our community.
Not everyone has an air conditioning unit in their home or could afford the utility bill to run one during extremely warm days/weeks. There are a number of NGOs and other stakeholders who provide services to our senior community who could play a role in transporting these vulnerable persons to “cooling centers” where they could spend a few hours a day until the day cools down and then return to their home.
‘Coolingp prevent heat-related illness. Extreme heat has become a major public health centers’ can be community centers (air conditioned) – a safe location -that could be for example utilized for this purpose where persons find relief from the heat. Senior citizen organizations could compile a list of vulnerable seniors through a needs assessment survey and put this into a database.
‘Cooling centers’ hel concern and can cause a variety of health problems, but heat-related illness is largely preventable. As a nation let’s continue to build our resilience agenda by including other potential hazards as we prepare the country for warmer temperatures in a changing climate.
Roddy Heyliger
