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Tourism Bureau St.Maarten sponsors Ecofest, calls for collective efforts
by St.Maarten Government Information Service
Posted: Jun 6, 2007 18:34 UTC
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PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten - The first annual Ecofest, meant to stimulate environmental awareness even further among different sectors of the community, was donated to by the Island Government Tourism Bureau, seeing the need for such in general but also part of the Tour Map.
Regina Labega, Head of the St. Maarten Tourism Bureau, spoke at the beginning of the program, congratulating the organizers and Island Vision for the first Ecofest.
“We all have to start to build awareness and consciousness about environment in our lives. The theme this year is climatic changes. Not only is this topic important to the world but to St. Maarten as well. Some scientists believe that climate change results in hurricanes and other environmental disasters, while others not. We must not let that get into the way, not only there needs to be political will but collective efforts to solve the issues of environmental challenges.”
LaBega said that even President of the North America G. Bush has come around to embracing the environmental efforts, unveiling last week a plan to reduce hazardous emissions among nations of the world.
“The debate is not about whether global warming is happening, but what to do,” LaBega said. “No one can solve the environmental challenges on their own, but we all need to reach a consensus, take concrete measures, and work together: government, the private sector, and civic society, including churches. A collective effort.”
Tourism depends on solving the environmental issues for future sustainability. The industry needs to be careful, monitored. Impacts have to be minimized. This is one of the main issues in the Tourism master plan, LaBega said.
“Every country in Caribbean should put environmental issues first. And although we could legislate and regulate, the most important is to educate, “ LaBega said. “I commend all teachers and students, organizers.”
Acting Lt. Governor, M. Voges, also provided an opening address, saying that we need to reduce the amount of emotionalism, when it comes to solving environmental matters. He added that environmental groups should not be the only ones championing the green effort, but it needs to be championed by all.”
“Ecofest can go a long way to encourage community,” Voges said. “We can each make a difference. It is incumbent upon us to learn about the environmental issues to make St. Maarten better. Change things. Much depends on the choices we make. We have to teach our children.”
W. Brooks, Managing Director of GEBE, spoke about Water and Electricity in his speech at Ecofest. The subtitle of his speech was “The local challenges, how aware are you?”
Brooks spoke about the challenges St. Maarten is faced with concerning electricity and water; he also address the need for Energy Policies, some of his proposed solutions, i.e. renewable energy; factors that have to be considered like the limited resources of time and money.There were two other panelists: Paul Hoetjes and Margaret Bates.
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