Recommendations for addressing Sint Maarten’s Environmental challenges
and for the improvement of the island’s Environmental legislation.
Sint Maarten’s Environmental, Natural and Cultural Heritage Conservation Foundations
hereby jointly present you with their Recommendations for the improvement of St.
Maarten’s environmental legislation and the protection of Sint Maarten’s Natural and
Cultural Heritage. The Foundations urge political parties to consider and incorporate
these points into their (governing) programs, in view of environmentally sustainable
development, the protection of the island’s Natural and Cultural Heritage and St
Maarten’s future status as a country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
The Foundations recommend the following:
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Avoid development projects which result in the destruction of the island’s few
remaining natural and ecologically valuable habitats.
Update Implement and Enforce the Island Nature Ordinance
Develop, implement and enforce zoning plans as required in The National Zoning
Ordinance (Landsverordening grondslagen ruimtelijke ontwikkelingsplanning) and
The island zoning ordinance (Eilandsverordening ruimtelijke ontwikkelingsplanning
St.Maarten EROP. These zoning plans should make a clear distinction between
areas/ zones intended (zoned) for the following purposes:
 Commercial
 Residential
 Recreational
 Conservation
Include local Natural and Cultural Heritage education in school curriculum
Organize educational sessions/ workshops to inform the general public of the
importance of nature and heritage conservation for ecological, socio-cultural and
economic purposes.
Recommendations for improvement of St. Maarten’s environmental legislation.
The St. Maarten National Heritage Foundation, Ocean Care, Sint Maarten Pride Foundation, The
Nature Foundation and The Emilio Wilson Estate Foundation.
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Seek funding, develop and implement plans and infrastructure for the regulation
of sewage and the establishment of Sewage treatment facilities.
Seek funding, develop and implement plans and infrastructure for the regulation
of solid waste (garbage) and the establishment of waste management facilities:
recycling companies etc. Waste management challenges can only be solved by
establishing or allowing for the establishment of a recycling and composting
company and by implementing relevant programs and supporting legislation. An
incinerator is too costly, adds to pollution and is high maintenance machinery.
Finalize, implement and enforce an Island Monument Ordinance for the
protection of the island’s monuments. (monuments include put are not limited to:
slave/ rock walls, historical buildings, Old Trees and sites)
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Maintain public access to all beaches. Maintain ample greenery (45 meter set
back) between the high-watermark and any and all forms of construction. Supply
and/ or require enough public parking facilities at beaches.
The objections and advice of stakeholders; environmental/ heritage organizations
and immediately effected residents must be taken into consideration during the
planning permit request procedure and in the stipulations of granted planning
permits.
Increase VROM department staff. A successful Country status for Sint Maarten
will require an increase in capable policy makers as many of Sint Maarten’s
environmental ordinances and policies are outdated.
Require, through proper legislation, environmental and social impact assessments
to be carried out by independent consultants when any major facility
development is being considered.
Place an immediate moratorium on the construction of hotels, resorts, marinas
and any other large scale projects which can pose a threat to the environment.
This moratorium would allow for the updating of legislation and development of
new environmental legislation required for managing aforementioned projects.
Recommendations for improvement of St. Maarten’s environmental legislation.
The St. Maarten National Heritage Foundation, Ocean Care, Sint Maarten Pride Foundation, The
Nature Foundation and The Emilio Wilson Estate Foundation.
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Additional Recommendations for the protection of Sint Maarten’s Natural and Cultural
Heritage:
o Develop, implement and enforce a Wetland Protection Ordinance (for Ponds,
Lagoons and other ecologically significant coastal zones).
o Develop, implement and enforce a Tree Protection ordinance for the Protection of
old and increasingly scarce trees (example: Silk Cotton, Tamarind, Sand Box Tree,
Flamboyant Tree, Stinking Toe etc).
o Develop, implement and enforce a billboard/outdoor signage policy.
o Create parks, green zones in each neighbourhood.
o Ban all plastic bags given out in Stores and Supermarkets reusable bags or boxes
can be sold instead.
o Ban all Styrofoam food containers.
o Ban toxic hull paints still sold on SXM, but banned almost everywhere else in the
world.
For a more complete overview of our recommendations, please see the attached (PDF)
document.
Recommendations for improvement of St. Maarten’s environmental legislation.
The St. Maarten National Heritage Foundation, Ocean Care, Sint Maarten Pride Foundation, The
Nature Foundation and The Emilio Wilson Estate Foundation.
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