Thanks to the Party for Progress (PFP), Melissa Gumbs and Raeyhon Peterson who submitted questions to the Honorable Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure VROMI Egbert C. Doran.
We at Dolphin Defenders SXM (DDS) are very curious about the reply of Minister Doran, in particular pertaining to the 14,000 square meters of water rights in long lease in the sea area by Sunset Bar and Grill, in the vicinity of the Maho Bay. We also are concerned as to what the purpose of this long lease in the area would be and what the plans are for the area, which borders Princess Juliana International Airport and is the first impression of our island to all airborne arriving guests.
We have seen previous plans submitted to VROMI that are for the construction of a large breakwater and pier (marina?) and include a large enclosed area between the breakwater, pier and shore. Besides the huge environmental impact of such a massive construction there is the very real concern about long-lasting and irreparable hurricane damage that has left so many abandoned structures around our island that are both dangerous (past construction on beaches) and an ugly spot on our number-one tourism product, our beautiful St Maarten nature (the old walk on the rocks at Mullet Bay).
In addition, of concern to Dolphin Defenders SXM is that we have heard of plans for this enclosed area within the breakwater and pier to house an aquarium and/or dolphinarium.
More and more all over the world, keeping dolphins captive in entertainment facilities/dolphinariums is considered cruel, with an increasing number of countries banning these facilities. The mentality of the public has changed drastically thanks to two very intriguing documentaries called “The Cove” and “Blackfish”. These eye-opening films are still making lots of people aware and no longer do many people wish to see these beautiful creatures in captivity doing tricks for food.
The world is switching and prefers nature as it should be, natural and free. Instead of boosting tourism, dolphinariums now generate negative feelings and negative publicity. It portrays the opposite of a sound and sustainable tourism product.
Dolphin Defenders SXM has opposed 5 different plans for a dolphinarium before in the past 20 years. In October 2011, for example, there was yet another plan for a dolphinarium in St Maarten. Dolphin Defenders SXM informed the public and tourists on the island and gathered 6,768 signatures opposing such an establishment. This petition, including a draft law to ban all cetacean captivity on St. Maarten, was presented by ourselves and Mr. Ric O’Barry to then-Prime Minister the Hon. Sarah Wescot-Williams. It is very clear by the number of signatures collected in a very short amount of time that a large number of our citizens, residents and tourists do not want a captive dolphin facility on St Maarten.
Dolphin Defenders SXM are not happy with animals in captivity, do not like the idea of an aquarium and consider a dolphinarium much worse. No matter if the dolphins are in a tank or in a sea pen it is still captivity and it is cruel. We would like to know now about any plans for a captive dolphin facility on St Maarten. We, the SXM citizens, residents and tourists are entitled to some answers and transparency.
So please Mr. Doran, share with us answers to our questions:
* Are there plans / business proposals / discussions for the construction of a captive dolphin facility on St Maarten?
* Has a business / construction permit for a captive dolphin facility been requested?
* Has a business / construction permit for a captive dolphin facility been issued?
* Are you aware that research has been done twice on the location and that a negative advice has been given twice?
* Are you aware of all the dangers in connection with hurricanes in our region, specifically the impact on our marine areas?
Has the following been taken into consideration?
* How big and how deep will their confinement pen or tank be?
* Where the dolphins will come from and when they will arrive?
* How many dolphins will be imported, what kind of dolphin species will they be?
* What is the hurricane contingency plan for the safety of the dolphins?
* Where will the dolphins be housed after a hurricane destroys their pen or tank?
And is everyone in government aware of the following?
* The hidden costs for the island’s environment on land and below the surface – the risk to our reefs and beaches?
* That polluted water (dolphin waste) exiting the pen or tank, depending on the daily changing current, can get as far, or even farther than Long Beach on the French side?
* The health risks for the dolphins and the health risks for the people who swim or interact with them, including those innocently swimming downstream of the facility?
* The high risk of injuries dolphins in captivity can inflict to humans?
* The negative impact of losing repeat (timeshare/cruise conversion) tourists who will not return to the island because of their ethical reasons against a dolphinarium?
* That dolphins are listed as a CITES species and are listed as protected under the Cartagena Convention?
* That the captive dolphin industry has a proven history of miseducation and lies?
There are so many other creative and compassionate ways to invest in entertaining our tourists and local community alike without the use or abuse of animals – for example, a Water Park with all the wet and wild adventurous splashing rides for kids and adults.
Or simply, rather than sinking the beauty of our island under more concrete, realize that it is the natural beauty of St. Maarten that attracts our tourists in the first place and invest in preserving, protecting and rejuvenating that for a sustainable tourism product for generations to come!
Let’s put St Maarten on the map for environmental leadership, beautiful, natural coastlines, beaches and hillsides, sustainable tourism – not for an outdated, cruel captive dolphin facility that is destined to become yet another hurricane-ravished concrete hazard.
Dolphin Defenders St. Maarten
Mercedes De Windt
