PHOTO CUTLINE: NDP volunteers at Belair Beach after collecting several trash loads of garbage. Minister Hon. Maurice Lake (2nd from right). DCOMM Photo
December 5th was International Volunteer Day (IVD). IVD is designated by the United Nations as a day to commemorate the facilitation, promotion, networking and recognition of volunteerism globally.
PHOTO CUTLINE: Three volunteers in action cleaning-up at Belair on Saturday. Photo by Warno Kartokromo
Here in St. Maarten, under the auspices of the National Development Program, Department of the Interior & Kingdom Relations, Ministry of General Affairs in cooperation with the Ministry of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure (Ministry VROMI), an event was hosted on Saturday December 7th from 8:00-12:00 at the Belair public beach. The event combined a beach clean-up that was complimented with a BBQ and award of certificates.
The theme this year on ecological protection and the overall benefits of environmental protection allowed the volunteers to share experiences on the importance of keeping the beach areas clean, safe and secure.
Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure (Ministry VROMI) Hon. Maurice Lake recognized the Democratic Dialogue Champions for their committed and hard work contributed towards designing the first stages of the National Development Plan (NDP) process.
Minister Lake applauded the dedication and passion of the Democratic Dialogue members stating that "This is the beginning of building Nation St. Maarten," and that he was keen on seeing BAK, the responsible Department to establish more collaborative efforts hereon with grass roots representatives and important environmental organizations such as Pride Foundation and the Nature Foundation to "strengthen the outcomes of similar events and initiatives."
The environment, being our most important natural resource in St. Maarten, every member of the community must be empowered and local efforts to preserve the environment encouraged and recognized.
Regardless of the bad weather, several NDP volunteers showed up to support the clean-up event. The NDP program has been building the capacity of several community leaders in the process to develop St. Maarten’s first National Development Plan. The trained volunteers are now preparing themselves to start the dialogue consultations in January 2014. The result of the national dialogues will provide input for drafting St. Maarten’s first NDP.
The International Volunteer Day commemoration brought together twenty of the NDP volunteers who participated in the clean-up and were recognized for their contribution to the community.
In her welcome remarks, Drs. Okama Ekpe Brook, the event organizer was especially proud to observe the motivation and dedication of the people who showed up on an early Saturday morning to participate in this exercise even with the raging storm.
Brook added that St. Maarten has a large section of its population that is committed to the spirit of volunteering but is often not recognized. Opportunities have to be identified to enable volunteers to be matched with needs on the ground, to network with each other and a conducive environment created to facilitate the promotion of more volunteering activities.
Brook concluded with a thank you note to the Minister of VROMI, the key note speaker and all the volunteers who turned up today and others often unseen.
Brook presented each member with a customized International Volunteers Day pen from NDP St. Maarten with the assistance of Minister Lake. Mrs Brook later honoured the presence and support of the Minister by presenting him with his own pen and encouraging further unfired efforts.
The energized group of Democratic Dialogue Members were not distorted by the inclement weather conditions, proceeding to clean up Belair Beach and serve their duty for IVD. Members collected a great amount of waste not immediately recognizable by frequenters. Various amounts of plastic and glass bottles as well as plastic bags, and contraceptives were collected and disposed of.
Similar to the Multiannual Policy Plan of previous years, the National Development Plan will provide a strategic vision for Sint Maarten, a "shared national vision" and a document outlining future national priorities that will concentrate on development areas that will improve and advance the social, economic, cultural and environmental situation.
Next steps include presentation of the NDP strategy and scheduling of community dialogues to kick off the data collection process via residents and district representatives.
For more information on the National Development Plan contact the NDP Program at the Interior and Kingdom relations office (BAK) by emailing nationaldevelopment@sintmaartengov.org