Saving St. Martin's is not possible without political commitment: Rizwana Hassan

Syeda Rizwana Hassan, Information and Environment Advisor, has commented that political commitment is essential to protect the island of Saint Martin. She said that no matter how big the master plan is, it is not possible to protect the island's environment and biodiversity without political will.

He made the remarks at a workshop organized on the master plan of St. Martin Island at a hotel in the capital on Tuesday (January 6). He said that St. Martin has been declared an ecologically critical area and in many countries of the world, overnight stays on such sensitive islands are prohibited.

Rizwana Hassan said, "Tourism and Saint Martin are not the same thing; the main goal of the government is to restore the island to its previous natural state. To this end, the government will work to implement the proposed five master plans step by step." According to her, externally controlled commercial tourism activities are the main cause of environmental destruction of the island.

He also said that tourism should be local community-centric and it is important to ensure alternative employment for the islanders. In this regard, he emphasized the integrated role of the relevant departments, including the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries. Conservation will be given top priority in the master plan; economy and tourism will be in the next phase.

The advisor said that St. Martin is not a place for loud noise, barbecues or commercial entertainment; it is a very sensitive area in terms of nature. He opined that developing accommodation for tourists in local homes could be a sustainable alternative to reliance on hotels and resorts.

The environmental advisor also said that these three issues - island erosion, environmental protection, and local employment - are under close government surveillance.