Sint Maarten Pride Foundation

Government of Sint Maarten cannot continue to allow unengineered, poorly executed excavations of our hillsides to continue and thereby risk that the homes of people living below these works are flooded, inundated by mud or suffer structural damage. (Note the soil being stockpiled, a potential landslide waiting to happen right above people's homes.) This particular excavation is among the causes of the large amount of dirt/mud which found its way to the Illidge Road during the heavy rains of a little over a week ago (see last picture) and yet today Thursday November 28th works continue in the same manner as if nothing has happened. *note similar irresponsible excavation activities are taking place all over the island.

Sint Maarten Pride Foundation wishes those dealing with flooding of their homes and/or business much strength. The Foundation has over the past 20 years advocated and warned against deforestation, excavation of hillsides, building in natural gutters, filling in and destruction of ponds and lagoons. These warnings have sadly by and large not been heeded by the various governments and in particular the many Ministers of the Ministry of VROMI . The flooding experienced today is partially a consequence of the lack of zoning, improper and poorly planned development, the destruction of natural buffers. Sadly, the situation is merely a foreboding of what is to come. Government of Sint Maarten #climate #caribbean #climateadaptation #climatechange #rechtenvandenatuur #rightsofnature #SDGS2030 #sintmaarten #sustainabledevelopment

A Happy St. Martin Day to one and all! May today's showcasing of our (Cultural) Heritage inspire us all to respect, uphold, preserve and share our Cultural traditions, Natural, tangible and intangible Heritage, not just on this particular day but on each and every day of the year! Emilio Wilson Estate Foundation continues to hope that current and future generations will all be able to one day celebrate special occasions such as our National day in our very own National Park. The Foundation therefore reiterates its calls to the Government of Sint Maarten to uphold the monument status of- and establish the entire remainder of the Emilio Wilson Estate as St. Maarten’s first Land-based Protected Area and National Park. Government of Sint Maarten Sint Maarten Pride Foundation Nature Foundation Sint Maarten Environmental Protection in the Caribbean #sxm #sxmstrong #saintmartin #sintmaarten #culture #heritage

During last night's meeting of Parliament of Sint Maarten, the Minister of the Ministry of VROMI Minister Patrice Gumbs welcomed the motion by Darryl York - Member of Parliament to: "Protect Sint Maarten’s remaining Ponds, Zone Mullet Bay, Mandate the requirement of Environmental Impact Assessments, Mandate that Public Access to Beaches is maintained". The Minister also listed a number of the Government's and in particular his Ministry's much welcomed plans for zoning and protection of nature. Actions speak louder than words and Sint Maarten Pride Foundation will, as such, continue to closely monitor, the actions Government of Sint Maarten will take in carrying-out the resolutions as listed in the motion and those towards the protection of Sint Maarten’s Natural Heritage in general. Have a look at this clip of the Minister speaking about the motion during the meeting of Parliament. #sintmaarten #sxm #nature #beach #beaches

The historic motion by Member of Parliament of Sint Maarten Darryl York to: Protect Sint Maarten’s remaining Ponds, Zone Mullet Bay, Mandate the requirement of Environmental Impact Assessments, Mandate that Public Access to Beaches is maintained etc, has earlier this evening been unanimously passed by Parliament of Sint Maarten and welcomed by the Minister of the Ministry of VROMI Minister Patrice Gumbs. Sint Maarten Pride Foundation will continue to closely monitor the actions Government of Sint Maarten will take in carrying-out the resolutions as listed in this motion. Have a look at this clip of the meeting of Parliament.

Sint Maarten Pride Foundation welcomes and celebrates this very important draft motion of Parliament of Sint Maarten as prepared and presented by Darryl York - Member of Parliament. We will be closely monitoring how this motion will be received by Parliament, whether or not it will be passed, which Members of Parliament will support it (and in particular which members will not!!). Additionally, we will be monitoring how the motion will be received by the Council of Ministers and followed up on by Government of Sint Maarten! https://lnkd.in/eHAUb3V3

https://lnkd.in/egdaxAar Dear Minister of Ministry of VROMI, Government of Sint Maarten, Parliament of Sint Maarten , Reference is made to all of our previous advice and statements on Mullet Bay over the past 20 years. In summary: 1. Zone Mullet Bay, 2. Ensure that the Public Character of and Public Access to Mullet Bay Beach is maintained, 3. Maintain the green open spaces at Mullet Bay, 4. Zone Mullet Pond, which is recognized as a RAMSAR site (wetland of international importance), as a Conservation area/National Park. Government of Sint Maarten

Will the incoming Government of Sint Maarten, the Minister of the Ministry of VROMI establish Sint Maarten’s first Land-based Protected Area and National Park? Will they work closely with Natural and Cultural Heritage Management Foundations in doing so? "PHILIPSBURG--The Emilio Wilson Estate Foundation and its sister organisation, the St. Maarten Pride Foundation, have welcomed recent news that the government is in discussions with Rainforest Adventures to return approximately half of the Emilio Wilson Estate to public ownership. The foundations are encouraged by the government's intention to designate parts of the estate for agriculture and conservation." #RightsofNature #sxm #sintmaarten #rechtenvandenatuur #Culture #heritage

The Emilio Wilson Estate Foundation and its sister Foundation Sint Maarten Pride Foundation have, with great interest and anticipation, taken notice of the announcement by Government that it is in discussions with Rainforest Adventures for the return to government of approximately half of the Land of the Emilio Wilson Estate. The Foundations welcome the intention to earmark parts of the property for agriculture and for conservation purposes. We reiterate our calls to have the entire remainder of the Emilio Wilson Estate, this beacon of cultural and natural heritage, established as Sint Maarten's first Land-based Protected Area and National Park! Government of Sint Maarten #sintmaarten #sxm #sxmstrong #saintmartin #caribbean #nature #culture #heritage #sdgs #naturephotography #environment #natuur #milieu #sdg2030 #RightsofNature #rechtenvandenatuur #GenerationRestoration #sustainabledevelopmentgoals

The differing approaches to nature and ecosystem respect highlight a significant contrast between the Dutch and French. It is my hope that we can draw valuable insights from the French side's gentler approach.