Basseterre, St. Kitts (May 31, 2005): The local Director of the UNESCO Sponsored Small Islands Voice, Mr. Antonio Maynard, recently recorded concerns of the populace as identified by members of the Small Islands Voice Committee from their public interactions.
According to Mr. Maynard a number of issues have been raised by voices in the nation in relation to the environmental impact of development at South Friars Bay as well as negative human interference in the nesting process of turtles at Keys Beach.
The director said his Committee is a vehicle for youth discussion and action on the environmental issues that affect them. He explained that while it is his committees mandate to act as a vehicle for positive action on environmental matters, sustainable development would imply that a balance be struck between development and the needs of the environment.
According to Maynard, development has its obvious benefits such as generating employment and a better standard of living for people in the Federation, while, at the same tim,e posing challenges to the environment.
He stated that careful planning of development activities would be paramount to getting the simultaneous benefits of a healthy environment and development.
Mr. Maynard said that it was his hope that out of the concerns raised by the youth, healthy discussions including all involved parties, relevant governmental agencies and youth representatives would result.
He added that S.I.V. would be pleased to organise such a meeting.
