The SHTA recently donated $1500 to the EPIC foundation to assist with the purchase of educational materials and other promotional materials for its Love the Lagoon Project. The project which was launched in March 2007 is aimed at raising environmental awareness and addressing the Simpson Bay Lagoon's pollution problems through educational programs and stakeholder participation.Although the health and ecology of the Simpson Bay Lagoon has suffered with increasing urbanization, the SHTA agrees that the lagoon still serves significant environmental and ecological purposes and forms a central point in the marine tourism industry of St. Maarten. The SHTA feels it therefore important to support the EPIC foundation's strive to promote the Love the Lagoon image by providing environmental education and public outreach to increase awareness and concern for the Lagoon environment and the threats it currently faces.
Environmental Protection in the Caribbean (EPIC) is a non-governmental, non-profit Foundation which has been managing and carrying-out nature conservation projects, research and environmental education programs on St. Maarten since 2001. Additional information on EPIC and the Foundation's activities is available at www.epicislands.org.
This donation was made possible by SHTA's Dollar-A-Day fund. SHTA's Dollar-A-Day program was established in 2005 and has funded, among others: clean-up campaigns, the Caribcert programs, Dollar-A-Day scholarships, Guest Excellence Training program for employees in the Hospitality sector and donations to various youth organizations on the island. SHTA is grateful to its hotel members who have continuously supported and contributed to the program over the years. These include: Sonesta Maho, Sonesta Great Bay, Divi Little Bay, Oyster Bay Beach Resort, La Vista Resort, Turquoise Shell Inn, L'Esperance Hotel, Royal Islander Club and Princess Heights. For more info on the SHTA and its Dollar-A-Day program, go to www.shta.com