Guana Bay:--- The St. Maarten Pride Foundation celebrated its 10th anniversary at a cocktail party on Saturday. Pride President Jadira Veen distributed four awards to different groups namely, St. Maarten Science Fair Foundation, Pearl FM Radio, Belvedere Home Owners and Tenants Association, St. Maarten Hospitality and Trade Association (SHTA). Veen in her address said the awards are just a symbol of appreciation to the persons who worked or either assisted the foundation in maintaining the environment.
Also present was commissioner of tourism and economic affairs Frans Richardson who reminded the persons engaged in environment awareness that he did not forget his pledge some years ago prior to him becoming a commissioner. Richardson had said that he believes that the harbor should collect at least 0.50 cents from each passenger and it should be donated to the foundations that are looking out for the environment. He said while it is difficult task for Veen and Ruben Thompson to speak out and people are not listening it is necessary that they continue to do what they are doing right now.
Attending the function was the French side environment ambassador Nicole Piper who pledged to work closer with their Dutch counter parts simply because St. Maarten is one island. Piper said that whatever affects one side of the island would definitely affect the other side.She said right now the French side is focusing on sorting garbage beginning from home. On Saturday Pride Foundation also cleaned up the cemetery French Quarter to mark their 10th anniversary.
