Marigot;--As part of the Caribbean Tourism day, which is set this year on November 4th, the French Tourism Office would like to highlight key St Martin figures, who contributed in protecting the environment and increasing the population awareness on the challenges of climate change.Special high light would be made about Mr. Kenneth HODGE,born in French Quarter on August 29, 1946, Mr. Hodge soon realized the importance of protecting our ecosystem.
In the 1980's, he decided to become an environmental activist and along with others, created the Association for the Protection of our Natural Resources. His friends such as George Gumbs, Roland Richardson, Austin Arnell to mention a few and himself were often disappointed by the lack of investment of a few officials but they never lost hope.
The first presentation that they held was entitled The Usage and Importance of the Mangroves in the Caribbean.
Although many times, they were tagged as enemies of progress and development, their purpose was to help guide the island and a harmonious development with the protection of environmental sites. He was left aside by leaders but found strength in other figures such as Van Der Hoeven, head of the Stinapa Foundation or Patricia of the White and Yellow Cross.
In 1999, Mr. Hodge was elected first president of the Natural Reserve Association; it was a daunting task for him because it was the first time that there was going to be a reserve on the island but also because the people, not familiar to this new concept had to be told and explained. For instance, the reserve had to explain that no fishing zones are set up in the reserve an that fishermen are allowed only outside of the zones due to the fact that eventually the fishes in the protected zone will become more abundant and will spread outside insuring a better and bigger catch for the fishermen.
To end this impressing résumé, Mr. Hodge served two terms of three years and has been appointed Honorary President for life in 2005.
Mr. Hodge would also like to acknowledge people that have been dedicated to the reserve such as Andy Caballero and Paul Ellinger who put in the Nature Foundation, not forgetting the Natural Reserve members and its president Harvey Viotty.
"We have a few adjustments to undertake but we're getting there".
Following the selected topic this year by the Tourism World organization, the Tourist office of Saint Martin would like to present a personality devoted to the environment.
Thanks to this Caribbean Tourism Day on November 4, 2008, four personalities were retained and will be the subject of presentation in the local press: 
Mr. Romeo CHILLIN
Born in Saint Martin on January 20th, 1973, from a family of 14 brothers and sisters.
It is a young person in the large heart and an impassioned truth of the environment. Since its young age grew the plants and helped his parents with the maintenance of the plants, flowers, trees which surrounded the house.
At the age of 18, he did his military service and was engaged for two years with the Army in Guadeloupe as (corporal chief). Back home, he began his career at the town hall as a technician and as proved reliable work to finally progress very fast in rank with the passing of years.
Indeed, through his love to environment he carried on study medicinal plants and often organizes seminars on the consumption of the herbaria and the use of the plants for the dinner.
Today, Romeo is a father of 4 children, and is head department at the collectivity in the sector green area and naturalness. This sector consists of :
- Maintenance of the trees in the public highway
- Capture nomadic animals (fourrière animal)
- Realization of the projects - green area
- Census taker
- Intervention and sensitizing in the schools on various topics centered on the environment, recycling.
With his knowledge, he took part in several projects within the community:
- Ecotourism Village with the OT
- Intervention and information in the schools on recycling and cleanliness.
- Projects of cleaning with nature foundation. (Dutch)
- Close cooperation with natural reserve
The Tourist Office wants to wish Mr. CHILLIN, courage and hope for these future projects within this new collectivity.
