Positive Quotes from Officials!
Lets add in the positive as well as the criticisms!
At the BVI Tourism Industry meeting Feb 22nd The Chief Minister stated "the BVI has a tradition of careful development that maintains a pristine environment" and also he mentioned ecotourism being the largest growing segment of tourism and that they were fully on the forefront to be gaining in that area with their new Anegada Interactive Welcome Center.
The Chief Minister’s New Years address promised that the government… "Will pursue developments in a manner that protects the environment;…and preserves our right to visit every inch of our beachfront".
The Chief Minister noted, at the opening of the Palm Grove park regarding the 1967 signing of the Wickham's Cay development agreement : ..." This agreement was signed without the consent of the people of the BVI. At that moment, our community had to make a definitive choice- either to accept our status as subjects in our own land- or stand up to the powers that be and demand our fundamental rights. This community made a choice- we stood up and we resisted"....
In the magazine, BVI Business (2007):
The Chief Minister said: " The prosperity of the British Virgin Islands has always been rooted in our abundance of natural beauty - our cool ocean breezes, our white sand beaches, our crystal clear waters. Therefore, in the BVI, environmental stewardship is not just a propound moral responsibility, it is also part and parcel of our investment policy as well. Every dollar spent preserving the pristine quality of our land and seas is not a cost; it is an investment that pays off with real returns over time"(page 16).
Jane Breakwell (associate editor of BVI Welcome Tourist Guide) quoted Russell Harrigan, Chairman of the BVI Tourist Board: "So the question regarding the impact of the rise of upscale tourism development in the BVI is not can we make it go away, but how can we successfully manage it?... No developer in his right mind wants to come to the BVI and destroy the environment, nor would any right thinking government allow this...The natural beauty is the product we are selling"(page 64).
ISLAND SUN - June 25 2005 However, Dr. Smith said that at the end of the day that is not what progress is really all about. He said that Government does not and will not measure its success based on the number of buildings that are constructed, or the number of bills passed, or the amount of dollars invested, "For us there is only one true measure of success, and that is the well being and happiness of the people of the BVI."
Link to the strong call by the Chief Minister to address OECS environmental concerns. Chief Minister of the British Virgin Islands (BVI) Hon. Dr. Orlando Smith noted the unique characteristics of the OECS Region in terms of smallness and under-development, stressing that environmental preservation must be a priority if Member States are to sustain their economies which are heavily dependent on tourism.“The preservation of pristine skies and seas, of unbleached coral reefs, and of unsoiled lands is not just a matter of public health or long-term conservation – it is a matter of immediate economic importance" the Chief Minister said.
Urging the Ministers to take advantage of global expertise and resources, Dr. Smith suggested the development of a conservation model that protects the environment and at the same time, does not sacrifice growth, or the quality of life in the region. Ministers were reminded that climate change, deforestation, species extinction, and ecosystem collapse are all real environmental challenges that deserve the attention of all government sectors.
Standpoint article, Aug 13th, 2004. Cousteau and Orlando Smith addressing Marine Curriculum that Cousteau is helping to set up."We still live from the sea. Our fishermen derive their livelihood from the healthy fish, which inhabit these waters, and global vacationers pay a premium to enjoy the great beauty of these waters we call our own. Our people on Jost van Dyke and Anegada also live from the sea as fishermen and host thousands of yachtsmen and women who visit." But Smith said: "We have yet to fully explore the water around us but we know that it is our greatest asset that needs to be protected. And the more we know, the better we can take care and safeguard our waters."
Positive quotes for BVI National Parks Trustees!
"Land and ocean are inextricably linked together. Parks are the symbol of this relationship. The economic success of small ocean nations such as the British Virgin Islands is dependent upon the sustainable management of its parks".
Jean-Michel Cousteau
"Mankind had built many great places over the years, but mankind can never recreate what is here. I am honored to be a part of a group of people who care so much about this incredible and unique place in the world".
Winthrop Rockefeller
"The wonderful people of the BVI understand that they live in a unique environment worth protecting. We all know that the national parks need constant attention. They are being managed for the next generation and the next."
Peter Jennings
Inspiring Past Quotes
"Let us not do anything that will spoil the natural beauty of our heritage, Let us not sell our birthright for a morsel of meat Let us remember the children, our children, who we are now educating. Let us trust in the Lord … and lean not to our own understanding".
Hon. Ivan Dawson, CBE, 1993
