Much has been said over the past few weeks regarding Environmental Protection In the Caribbean's board decision to accept an invitation to participate in a fundraiser at Westin Resort. Many of you have called, emailed or stopped me on the road to voice your opinions and to express your concerns.
Let me start off by assuring you all that I was not involved in organizing, nor did I attend the fundraiser event at Westin resort St. Maarten. Furthermore I will not support or attend any event at, or for that matter set foot on, the Westin property for anything other than an Environmental Inspection.
As many of you know I was actively involved in efforts, by St. Maarten's Environmental Foundations, to have the Westin resort build in a more environmentally and ecologically sustainable manner. Government and in particular the Commissioner of Environmental affairs at that time, chose to disregard our (environmental) advice, resulting in the devastation of an ecologically valuable wetland ecosystem (the pond and surrounding mangroves at Dawn Beach) and the destruction of what was once was a beautiful beach and valley.
The event's organizers contacted EPIC's board with a proposal to host a fundraiser for the Foundation at Westin Resort. EPIC's President subsequently contacted me regarding the proposal. Based on the abovementioned I strongly advised the Foundation to request another venue or to decline the invitation if changing the location was not an option. I also made it abundantly clear to the Foundation's board that I would not support, promote or attend any event at Westin. EPIC's board unfortunately chose not to heed my advice.
Although I am associated with EPIC as an independent consultant/project manager for its Love the Lagoon project, as a local Environmentalist I have always advocated the necessity of implementing sustainable development practices on the Island and protecting St. Maarten's Natural and Cultural Heritage. I therefore distance myself from EPIC's decision to participate in the event at Westin and align myself with my fellow board members of the SXM Pride Foundation in expressing great disappointment and disapproval of EPIC's decision to participate in the event at Westin.
As the event has already taken place I can only hope that EPIC's board has learned from this experience and will opt to heed my advice regarding similar matters in the future.
Hoping to have informed you all sufficiently,
Best regards,
Rueben J. Thompson
Environmentalist
Vice President St. Maarten Pride Foundation