Income & racial divide; foreign investment problems and other issues
Craig Archibold, Turcs & Caicos Islands
Mike Baker
Mike Baker
Ruperto Chaparro, Puerto Rico
Guy Esparon Seychelles
Daniela Mejia Gattás, Dominican Republic
Jaye Green
Eva Hansen
Jean Claude Leclerc, France
Judit de Leon, Dominican Republic
J Lukan, Yap State, Federated State of Micronesia
Casandra Moreta, Dominican Republic
Vijay Naidu, Fiji
Olga Karina Núñez, Dominican Republic
Ene Owoh
Geoffrey D. Pidduck, Antigua
Lydia Pulsipher, USA
Giana Amelia Santana , Dominican Republic
Maere Tekanene, Kiribati
Rosemarie Thomas, Trinidad & Tobago
Oscar Velázquez, Dominican Republic
Samuel Victoria, Dominican Republic
David Vitalis, St. Lucia

A different reality
Faiz Syed Ahmed, Canada
Parry Bellot, Dominica
Myriam Chambault, Micronesia
Heather Grant, St. Vincent & the Grenadines
Maria Grech, St. Lucia
Peter Jacobs, Bequia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines
Francis Joseph, Dominica
Jaffar Mouhhidine, Comoros
Alan Whitaker, Bequia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines

Non-SIDS situation, Other businesses
Tom Bowling, Marshall Islands
Patrick Brown, Canada
Wendy Forse, South Africa
Jaye Green
Tony Law, Hornby Island, Canada
L Potter, British Virgin Islands

Other responses
Lois Blumenthal, Cayman Islands
Myriam Chambault , Micronesia
Helen Chumbe, Zanzibar
Lisa Fong, Dominican Republic
Miguel Fortes, Philippines
Hazel Heyer, Florida, USA
Bob Morris
Miguel Hereveri Pakarati, Papua New Guinea
J H Primavera, Philippines
John Rowley, UK
Jacquie Ruan, Anguilla
Karen Thompson, Jamaica
Tsiguereda Walelign, Brussels
Kay Wallis
Writer, Guyana
Writer, Samoa
Writer, Turcs & Caicos Islands

 

 

 

Income & racial divide; foreign investment problems and other issues

From Craig Archibold, Turcs & Caicos Islands

A great and timely article! Very important! This trend seems to be emerging (or is rooted) in countries such as Bahamas, Bermuda and Turks & Caicos Islands. We are empowering one side of the economic fence for the sake of development whilst crippling our chances for social and economic integration.

From Mike Baker

The problems of tourists are multitudinous, but not quite as large as the number of global tourists. The Ecologist of December 2006 republished an Editorial of February 1974 headed "Pollution by Tourism" which indicates that tourists are looking for sun, sand, sea and sex - not necessarily in that order and expressed the hope that mass tourism would be a victim of the energy crisis. Unfortunately for some small islands this has not been the case. Having attended, occasionally, meetings in tourist places and noticed people in the sun drinking, smoking, occasionally talking and eating might some small islands set up tourism centres, as in some circum-Mediterranean countries where the tourists are "isolated" with, when necessary, day-trips to places of special interest?

From Mike Baker

What is tragic about many of the replies concerning small-island business is the seeming acceptance of the fact that expatriates/outsiders will take over (sooner or later). Are there insufficient small-islanders with the ability to set up an Inter-Island Tourist Agency? Is there not enough interest on the part of governments to provide funds to launch such a project (and with the profits reduce taxes)? Governments fund electricity, gas, water, etc (ignoring for the moment armaments) industries: why not tourism? There must be sufficient numbers of people with experience and interest to make such an Agency work and take over the employment of small-islanders. Unity is strength.

This idea could equally be applied to collaboration in other areas, such as the environmental impacts of tourism; how to avoid the negative effects of "fish" farming; sewage disposal -including biogas production (for which there are several developing countries with experience); export of small-island agricultural products; a small-island fashion industry and why not design something to replace the baseball cap (which many people seem to equate with progress) or why not something light, durable, easy to carry, to replace plastic shopping bags, etc?

As Charles Alexandre de Calonne wrote, almost three centuries ago: the impossible we can do immediately...... miracles take a little longer! (Needless to say it takes more effort.)

From Ruperto Chaparro, Puerto Rico

I think this article provides a good example of what is happening in the Caribbean tourism industry. However unless the Caribbean countries start to work towards the creation of a unified governmental structure we will never be able to have control of our economies. We need to get together and start relationship among us. At this moment people from St. Thomas, St. Croix, Jamaica, Barbados and other islands go to Europe or the U.S. to study instead of coming to the University of Puerto Rico. Our students in Puerto Rico never think of the Caribbean universities as an option to study. We can say the same regarding business. It is a shame that we still have a mentality of colonized people and do not exploit or recognize the numerous opportunities we are losing.

From Guy Esparon, Seychelles

Your article in the past couple of month has glued me to the monitor due to the interest and also the reality and emphasis, concerns relating to small island groups. I am a Seychellois and as the Caribbean we see ourselves in the same boat with outside interest for all the good of the country. Unfortunately the Government sees it as progress but for a cost. Seychellois will no longer be able to enjoy the beach in the near future as most of the nice picnic beaches have been taken up by large hotel chain and access will be denied due to strict security. Most of the islands are leased or owned by foreigners and access denied again. This is not a complaint - just my hurt seeing this unique culture of ours which visitors come to see, but instead are disappointed as they could have gone back to the Caribbean once more.

From Daniela Mejia Gattás, Dominican Republic

This is an article that focuses on the racial division that exists in the Caribbean between the hotel owners and their employees. This is an absolute reality, and it is good to also acknowledge that it does not only happen in our country but in all the Caribbean. I think that than within the tourism sector racial differences should not exist, since if a person is doing her work correctly the color of her skin should not interfere with her work performance.

It is a pity that the government promotes more foreign investors than local ones, for instance, via the tax law and the time frame given to local investors to recover their investment. I think that the government can adopt many measures that can contribute to development, for example, demanding foreign investors to hire local employees if the local labour force has the required capacities. Besides, foreign investors should provide this labour force with all the due services: medical and dental insurance, etc.

The article also comments how developing countries’ economy benefits from tourism through direct job creation. We also see how the article gives us the idea of integrating agriculture in the tourism sector, in exchange of exporting these products. In this way we can obtain more economic gains and at the same time create a system of integrating the tourist in our products’ elaboration.

Regarding the investment of money in cruises’ tourism, I think our country has a big potential to exploit this type of tourism. We already have several marinas (Romana, Sans Souci, Río Ozana, etc). Other type of attractions can be developed within the same ports where boats disembark in order to integrate the tourist.

We also have the debate of all-inclusive hotels. Our country has this type of tourist packages that are only profitable for the hotel and not for our country, since the tourist is offered a cheap package with everything included. Thus, the tourist does not have the opportunity to know the different attractions that we possess and he does not get to know our culture, typical gastronomy, traditions, cultural heritage, etc.

If we put more effort in improving what we already offer, all the visitors will be pleased, will look forward to come back and will also voice it throughout the world.

Es una pena que el gobierno incentive más a los inversionistas extranjeros que a los locales, como es la ley del impuesto y el margen de tiempo que se les otorga a estos para poder recuperar su inversión. Creo que el gobierno puede tomar muchas mas medidas que contribuyan al desarrollo exigiendo a estos inversionistas tener empleomanía local siempre y cuando esta se encuentre capacitada y brindarles todos los servicios ya sea seguro medico, dental, etc.

Nos habla sobre como la economía de los países en vía de desarrollo tiene una gran contribución por parte del turismo creando empleos directos. Vemos como nos dan la idea de integrar la agricultura en el sector turístico, a cambio de exportar los productos.
Para así obtener un mayor beneficio económico y a la vez se podría crear un sistema de integración al turista con la elaboración de nuestros productos.

En lo que a la inversión de dinero en el turismo de cruceros, pienso que nuestro país tiene un gran potencial para explotar el turismo de cruceros, con tamos con varias marinas (Romana, Sans Souci, Rio Ozana etc). Se puede desarrollar otro tipo de atracciones dentro de los mismos puertos donde desembarquen los barcos relacionado con el país, que integre al turista.

También tenemos el debate de los hoteles All-inclusive, nuestro cuenta con ese paquete, el cual solo resulta beneficioso para el hotel y no para nuestro país, ya que el turista le ofertan un paquete aparte de barato con todo ya incluido y este no tiene la oportunidad de conocer , las diferentes atracciones que poseemos en nuestro país. Salir y conocer ya sea la cultura, la gastronomía típica, las tradiciones, los patrimonio culturales etc.

Si ponemos mas empeño en mejorara y brindar lo mejor que lo que ya ofertamos, los visitantes se sentirán complacidos, con deseos de volver y a la vez serán una voz en todo el mundo.

From Jaye Green

Very interesting article. I'm tragically not surprised. There seems a certain 'pattern' that ex-patriate (ex pat) nations follow.

1. Create a 'first world' standard
2. Hire ex-pats for main/technical jobs, locals for subsidiary
3. Move some locals to main/technical jobs, pay less than ex-pat more than standard.
4. Train local people for all posts
5. Sell company to another ex pat
6. Another ex pat begins milking the cash cow
7. Cuts out frills, holds salaries at level while it rises in competitors
8. Fire locals who are getting paid 'too much', hire others who will work for less and
bring less to the table.
9. Blame locals for drop in profitability
10. Bring venue to the ground, close it and leave.

From Eva Hansen

I assume that you will edit/shorten my comments, just use what you want. Also, I wonder why you do not post your articles on green-travel forum. To post a message to this group, send an email to: green-travel@yahoogroups.com

I receive the articles from Small Islands Voice and find them well written, very informative - and very distressing.

Your latest posting about the tourism industry in the Caribbean motivates me to comment for the first time. Indeed the last paragraph of the article rang alarm bells "...to turn two decades of talk into action. One thing is certain: if there is not serious research and development of the tourism industry, it may continue to contribute to Caribbean economic growth and development, but not for long".

In 1994 I wrote my MSc dissertation on "North to South Tourism and Sustainable Development". I chose Dominica for in depth research, an island state with different - but comparable - development problems to most other Caribbean islands, i.e. a tourism monoculture replacing bananas rather than sugar cane.

I did not evoke the concept of racial divide which is the cross-cutting theme of your article. My discussion focused on locals vs. expatriates and otherwise described exactly the same problems: land vs. cruise infrastructure development; outflow of earnings to the North with minimum benefit for locally owned restaurants and businesses, the prospect of social unrest, etc.

The point I wish to make is that for 12 or more years "talk has not been turned into action" and that Caribbean tourism was - and is - unsustainable in its present form. Tourism growth has given rise to fierce competition for revenue in which industry and governments
fight for market share. In the process the resource base, the destination, often undergoes transformation from what was intended to be a non-consumptive renewable resource industry into yet another boom-and-bust enterprise (adapted from Murphy and Butler, 1991).

In 1994 I argued for measures such as an environmental tax to compensate for the otherwise free use of an island's natural resources; travel consumer education and information; and a host country registry to manage tourist numbers - with the participation of the intergovernmental community. I submitted a proposal to this effect to the World Tourism Organization but received no reply. Interestingly the government of Costa Rica is considering the imposition of an entry tax (in addition to the exit fee already charged). The proposal is being scrutinized in view of its possible negative impact on the volume of visitors - and the vigorous promotion of tourism by neighbouring Panama.

In conclusion I think that a Tourism Research and Development Institute is essential. Meanwhile, we can all try to educate and convince our friends to travel sustainably and in a manner that benefits the local populations.

From Jean Claude Leclerc, France

Of course, the establishment of a Research Institute on tourism economy and its social consequences would be very useful, in order to study and to correct a very skewed situation. But meanwhile, states of the area, most of which are small, should consider cooperating rather than competing. There should be a common tax policy, which would allow better financial resources for the states in order to undertake better public infrastructures, to create national parks for nature conservancy, model farms, above all make financial contributions towards the creation of local companies, so that gradually the share of local investment becomes significant.

C'est sur que la formation d'un Institut de recherche sur l'économie touristique et ses conséquences sociales serait très utile, en vue d'étudier et de corriger une situation très biaisée. Mais en attendant il faudrait que les états de la région qui sont souvent petits pensent à coopérer plutot qu'à se faire concurrence. Il faudrait une politique fiscale commune qui permettrait de meilleures ressources des états en vue de réaliser de meilleures infrastructures publiques, créer des parcs nationaux de protection de la nature, des fermes modèles, de faire des aides à la création d'entreprises locales surtout, afin que progressivement la part d'investissement local devienne importante.

From Judit de Leon, Dominican Republic

Regarding the article “Tourism: for whose benefit?”, I consider that in the Dominican Republic no important investment has been made for cruise tourism since our ports are in no condition to receive cruises, though in the last years some measures have been adopted to take it into account. Our country is also trying to integrate agriculture production in the food industry field, since we are trying to consume local products if they have a regulation system that certifies that such products do not present contamination risks.

When the article mentions the all-inclusive hotels that only benefit themselves, I think new prices should be implemented with new attractions, with no all-inclusive offers. In the Dominican Republic there are plenty of important places to take the tourist to, whether they are cultural, adventure, beach, or eco-tourism activities.

Sobre el articulo, Tourism: for whose benefit?, concidero que en republica dominicana no se ha hecho una gran inversion en lo que es el turismo de crucero, devido a que nuestros puertos no estan en condicion para recivir a los mismo, aunque en los ultumos años se han tomado medidas para tomar en cuante este tipo de turismo. tambien en nuestro pais si estan tratando de integrar a la produccion agricola en el ambito de la alimentacion, debido a que estamos tratando de consumir productos locales, siempre y cuando este tengan un sistema de regulacion, que nos certifique que estos productos recividos no tengan ningun riesgo de contaminacion.

Cuando el articulo menciona sobre todo incluido en los hoteles, que solo se venefician los mismo, creo que se deberian de implementar nuevas tarifas que tengan nuevas a tracciones y que no sea todo incluido, ya que en republicam dominicana hay muchos lugares importantes por donde llevar al turista ya sea de forma cultural, de aventura, playa, ecoturismo, etc.

From J Lukan, Yap State, Federated State of Micronesia

I myself have visited the Caribbean countries. Well, I am back to Yap, an island in the northern Pacific, between Guam and Palau. I must say that the Caribbean islands are beautiful and respect all aspects of development. My small and conservative island is not even close to what the Caribbean islands are doing and enjoying.

It is unfortunate that there are tensions between local people and tourism developers in the Caribbean islands. My island of Yap is in its infant stage of tourism development and the product is cultures and traditions. Of course, there are some water/ocean activities since it is an island.

Foreign investment is slowly coming and the local people are appreciating it but close coordination is ensured among participants. The local people have come to realize that employment opportunities is there and the development of other products such as cultural heritage sites, local dances and other cultural and traditional activities shall be put in place for visitors and incomes. Partnership with foreign investors is encouraged. All land in Yap is privately owned so therefore the local partner would provide the land and foreign investors would provide the capital and a partnership can be drawn out, depending on the agreement between the parties.

This is a short comment and I am inviting comments from you and for you to share it with the investors who are already in the Caribbean who might be interested to look into Yap for possible investment. Of course, Yap is different but can be developed. They can contact me directly at email address jlukan at mail.fm or yaphp at mail.fm.

From Casandra Moreta, Dominican Republic

This document is about some of the problems of the tourist industry in the islands of the Caribbean, such as:

The racial and nationality differences that exist amongst the owners and the employees of most of the tourist companies of the Caribbean. In fact it is a pity that the owners of these companies, who generate the main economic income in most of these countries, are foreigners. This happens because they are the ones who have the money to invest, besides they are granted enormous facilities for doing so, which nonetheless are not awarded to local investors. And if a law did not exist that requires that a specific percent of the workers must belong to the country where the company is settled (as it is the case in Dominican Republic), I assure you that all the workers of those companies would be also brought from the owner’s country of origin. Therefore, the governments should give more facilities to national investors, so that the gains stay within the country and the differences between employees and owners are not so obvious.

A better approach should as well be to invest more money in cruises’ tourism instead of modernizing tourist places, attractions, etc. Many of these islands have not fully developed the sector of cruises’ tourism, and this is a type of tourism that is very beneficial, especially due to our island condition. I believe this happens because they [the government] focus on the same issues and do not search for other ways of obtaining benefits -currently not being used up to their maximum potential, and because they prefer to develop the traditional sectors instead of focusing on the renewal of other areas. Therefore, I think they should develop other sectors that are not being seized to the maximum but without neglecting other sectors.

Another problem is the case of all-included hotels that lock-up the tourist without letting him to get to know the environs. These hotels offer almost everything tourists need, so tourists lock-up in them without really getting to know the country. Something positive is that the hotels’ deal is so good that tourists do not want to get out of them, but hotels should also offer tours outside the hotel. Indeed, hotels should motivate tourists and provide them with facilities and indications to get outside, by doing so they would be boosting commerce in tourist zones and getting tourists to know the country.

These are thus the points that I think would improve even more our tourist industry, instead of leaving outside of the tourist offer our own products and focusing only on imported products. These proposals would help to generate more jobs and income, as well as a higher return rate and a better use of our tourism resources.

Este documento habla sobre algunos problemas que se presentan en la industria turística de las islas del Caribe, como:

Las diferencias de nacionalidades o raciales que existen entre los dueños y los trabajadores de la mayoría de las empresas turísticas del Caribe. En realidad es una pena que los dueños de estas empresas, que generan la mayor entrada económica en la mayoría de estos países, sean extranjeros, pero realmente es así porque aparte de que ellos son los que tienen el dinero para invertir, también le dan comodidades increíbles para hacerlo, las cuales no les dan a los inversionistas del propio país. Y si no existiera la ley de que un porciento específico de los trabajadores debe de ser del país donde se radica la empresa (como es el caso aquí en la Rep. Dom) les aseguro que tuvieran esas empresas con todos los trabajadores traídos desde su país también. Entonces los gobiernos deberían de dar mas facilidades a los inversionistas nacionales para que las ganancias se mantengan dentro del país y las diferencias entre los empleados y dueños no sea tan notoria.

El enfoque para invertir dinero en turismo de crucero en vez de modernizar medio turísticos, atracciones, etc. Muchas de estas islas no tienen desarrollado plenamente el sector de turismo de cruceros, y este es un tipo de turismo que es muy beneficioso y más aun por nuestra condición de isla, entonces yo creo que por esto es que se enfocan tanto en el mismo, porque ven otra manera de poder sacar beneficios que no están siendo utilizados al máximo y prefieren desarrollar este sector en vez de enfocarse en el renovamiento de otros sectores. En este sentido pienso que deberían desarrollar los sectores que no están siendo aprovechados al máximo pero sin descuidar los otros sectores.

El caso de los hoteles todo incluido, que encierran al turista sin dejarlo conocer los alrededores. Estos hoteles ofrecen casi todo y los turistas se encierran en los mismos sin conocer realmente el país. En este caso es algo positivo porque las ofertas de estos hoteles es tan buena que los turistas no quieren salir de los mismos, pero deberían de ofrecer tours fuera del hotel, las facilidades, indicaciones y motivación para salir del mismo y de esta misma manera ayudar a fomentar el comercio en esas zonas turísticas y por su puesto que los turistas conozcan el país.

Estos son puntos que mejorarían nuestra industria turística mucho mas, sin dejar afuera la inclusión de nuestros productos en toda la oferta en vez de productos importados, generando así mas trabajos, ingresos, una tasa de retorno mas alta y un mayor aprovechamiento de nuestros recursos turísticos.

From Vijay Naidu, Fiji

Just to let you know that I really found these perspectives on ownership/profit repatriation and income distribution pertinent to Fiji and other Pacific Island Countries and most interesting.

From Olga Karina Núñez, Dominican Republic

This article is about two very interesting and important subjects of the tourism industry. The first of them is racism in the tourism world. I consider that we should pay attention to this problem since tourism is an industry that allows people of different cultures and countries to relate with each other, and therefore racism is a factor that interferes with it and harms it.

The other very important point in the article is the final destiny of the tourist industry benefits. This issue is very important for me and requires special attention. In many countries, governments care about making investments to improve their countries’ position as tourist destinations, but governments have to also analyze that they are investing so that these benefits are only finally awarded to the “all-included” hotels’ owners. These types of investments assist in the country development, but in the end is not worth it because tourists get tired of being stuck in a hotel, of seeing always the same things. Instead, a beautiful country is waiting for them, full of culture and lovely places to visit that can provide them with what they are really looking for: "an unforgettable experience".

Este articulo trata dos temas muy interesantes e importantes en la industria turística. El primero de ellos es el racismo en el mundo del turismo, este problema yo considero que hay que prestarle atención, y a que el turismo es una industria que nos permite que personas de diferentes culturas y países se relacionen y por lo tanto el racismo es un factor que interfiere y perjudica al turismo.

El otro punto muy importante que se trata en este articulo es sobre el destino de los beneficios de la industria turística, este tema para mi es muy importante y requiere de especial atención, ya que en muchos países los gobiernos se preocupan mucho por realizar
inversiones para mejorar sus países como destinos turísticos, pero tienen que analizar que están invirtiendo para que los beneficios se los lleven solo los dueños de los hoteles todo incluido. Estas clases de inversiones ayudan mucho al desarrollo del país, pero de nada les
vale, porque los turistas se cansan de estar trancados en un hotel, de estar viendo la misma cosa, cuando les espera un país preciosos, lleno de cultura, lugares preciosos que les pueden brindar lo que en realidad buscan " Una Experiencia Inolvidable".

From Geoffrey D. Pidduck, Antigua

Please forward to Sir Ron Sanders for me and ask him to contact me. Developing a Nation - Sir Vere Cornwall Bird the Visionary - In response to "The notion of a racial divide in the Caribbean tourism industry - Sir Ronald Sanders Article"

There is no denying that Sir Ronald Sanders has a great grasp on the issues and has expressed them well. One cannot disagree with his views and we must certainly be aware of these issues raised by him. However if we dwell for too long and emphasize them instead of recognizing some other factors his prophesy will come true – sooner rather than later.

Shortly after the Second World War, about 60 years ago, Antigua’s first Prime Minister, the visionary Sir Vere Cornwall Bird negotiated the purchase of the Antigua Syndicate of Estates Lands on behalf of the Crown in exchange for a fair Market Price. He reported this to represent 85% of the lands. Some of the remaining estates were purchased at various times by Antiguans like John I Martin, Rowan Henry, Sir George Walter’s parents, The Antigua Distillery, and other enterprising Antiguans. Some remained in the hands of descendants of the early settlers. Prior to that Antiguans owned very little of the rock. Today they are the dominant property owners with increasing ownership by individuals at all levels.

What Prime Minister Vere Bird recognized in the late 50’s and early 60’s and 70’s is that diversification into Tourism was essential to provide for growth, balance and improved quality of life of his people. It is interesting to note that The United Arab Emirates have followed Antigua’s example and are now leading the way in property development and tourism. The Emirates anticipate that sooner or later oil will either run out or that demands will drop as they are replaced by renewable sustainable substitutes.

While Antiguans today look with envy and regret at such developments as Mill Reef and say that we should never again give our land away, the older among us remember the Mill Reef Scholarship fund that sent many of our promising young Antiguans away for a Higher education. In the 50’s there was a hand full of professionals. Today Antiguans are making contributions all around the world in fields of science, sports, architecture, the arts and medicine. Indeed Antiguans living abroad outnumber those at home by a factor of as much as five to one. These Antiguans abroad are also making their mark and contribution to the growth of our economy and the welfare of our people, as are Caribbean peoples from all over the region, by their regular remittances of monies earned abroad.

Today, Antiguans control their destiny through participation and dominance in Government, legal, banking and medical professions, many services and in the construction industry. We have witnessed the increased participation and growth of Antiguans in such areas as landscape architecture and gardening, hotel management, drafting and surveying, retailing and distribution, import and Customs Brokerage, sports and sports tourism, etc. Demand for trained professionals in all aspects of business and community services is on the increase and is being filled by whoever is available and prepared to contribute including many people from other Caribbean islands. This demand is in large part due to the Tourism engine consisting of Hotels, Guest Houses, Villa and Apartments as second homes, Cruise Tourism and lastly the active and vibrant Marine and Yachting sector.

We need to start thinking positively and look to the future. Relative to most countries of the world our really poor in Antigua represent a very small number and so the challenge for our Government and Community leaders to bring those less fortunate is not as great as in places like Haiti, The Dominican Republic, China, India, Africa and many Arab countries.

So while we can agree with Sir Ron, let us enjoy the benefits of investment from where we can get it while following the example from ABIB and other local enterprising Antigua individuals and firms that are proactive in moving Antigua forward. ABIB for example own Hotels, Development lands, active in many fields and are an interesting example of local leadership and enterprise.

Let us emphasize the successes of our people rather than instill factors, related to greed and envy, which plague us today and represent the seeds of discontent.

Postscript: Antigua Ownership and Control: a) Hotels: Jolly Beach Hotel, Dian Bay Resort, Galleon Beach Resort, Catamaran Club and Beach Resort, Heritage Quay Hotel, City View Hotel, Sandpiper Beach, Cortland Hotel, Runaway Beach Resort, Island Inn, Admiral’s Inn, Copper and Lumber Store. B) Marinas: Falmouth Harbour, Catamaran Club and Nelson’s Dockyard representing more than 50% of capacity. C) Construction: Dominated by construction of new homes and existing home enhancements for Antiguan Residents and for Antigua’s living abroad. The construction industry being stimulated by the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium and Cricket World Cup, 185 Bed State of the art Hospital, Car Park for St. John’s, New Government and Commercial buildings that are predominately Antiguan.

From Lydia Pulsipher, USA

I have 34 years of experience doing research (historical archaeology) in the Eastern Caribbean where I have observed the development of tourism there and participated as a repeat lecturer on cruises.

I and a former graduate student have a co-authored chapter in a recently published book on Global Cruise Tourism that directly addresses this issue of negative aspects of cruise tourism in the Caribbean. I would like to refer you to it, and I would like to see it circulated in this list. Not sure how to do that, so will await instructions but in the meantime I will get permission from the publisher.

Lydia M. Pulsipher and Lindsey Holderfield, “Decolonizing Caribbean Cruise Tourism” in Cruise Tourism: Issues, Impacts, Cases, edited by Ross Dowling. Oxfordshire, UK, CABI Publishing, 2006, pp 299-314.

From Giana Amelia Santana , Dominican Republic

Yes, the problem in our island is that when our country is put on the market only the hotel, its facilities and the beach are shown. Few of our cultural and natural attractions are shown.
To change this, we have to undertake the initiative by ourselves and do not wait for the government to do it, since the government primarily seeks quick development so people can see acts or benefits that are only going to help us in the short-term, in a logic of supply and demand.

The fact that many tourists come into our country does not mean the country is really benefiting of it, since in Dominican Republic the tourist usually does not go out of the hotel.
To change this we must think long-term, this is a slow but feasible process. We must take the initiative of eliminating the “all-inclusive” mode (not totally though) so that doors are opened to tourists to explore and get to really know the country.

Nonetheless, regarding this last aspect, we need help from the government since, if we want that the tourists go out, we need to assure that they do not run any risk and that they get to know organized and well-conditioned places.

Ese es un articulo se enfoca en la división racial que existe en el Caribe entre los dueños del hotel y los empleados. La cual es una gran realidad, y es bueno saber que no solo ocurre en nuestro país. Sino en todo el Caribe. Creo que en el sector turístico no pueden existir las diferencias raciales, ya que si una persona esta realizando su trabajo como debe de ser su color de piel no interfiriere con su desempeño laboral.

Si el problema en nuestra isla es que en su mayor parte cuando se vende el país o mercadea solo se muestra el hotel, playa y sus facilidades. Muy poco se muestra los atractivos culturales, naturales, etc.

Para cambiar esto, hay que tomar la iniciativa, y no esperar que el gobierno decida hacerlo, ya que en su mayoría lo que se busca por parte del gobierno en nuestro país es el desarrollo rápido para que el pueblo vea actos o beneficios que solo van a ayudar a corto plazo, debido a la demanda y competencia.

Que ingrese muchos turistas al país no quiere decir que el país se este beneficiando de esto ya que en la Republic Dominican los turista no suelen a salir del hotel.

Para cambiar esto hay que pensar a largo plazo, por que es un proceso que lento pero factible. Tomando la iniciativa con eliminar el todo incluido (no en su totalidad) y así abriéndoles las puertas al turista que salga a explorar y conocer.

En esta parte se necesita la ayuda del gobierno ya que si queremos que los turistas salgan hay que asegurar que no corren peligro y que salen a conocer lugares organizados y en buena condiciones.

From Maere Tekanene, Kiribati

I agree that there are cases of local employers that do not give what local employees deserve which in some cases happens in the islands partly because many of our people began business employing themselves and when their businesses got larger they hire people. These hired people were treated likewise with owners because there is limited understanding of the locals on many legal and upgrading ways. In Kiribati, the Kiribati Chamber of Commerce is trying to raise awareness on the laws where employers need to make compliance to providing benefits to their employees.

It is hoped that with more education to local employers including the laws and others intended exploitation may be avoided.

From Rosemarie Thomas, Trinidad & Tobago

The Travel Foundation (www.thetravelfoundation.org.uk) is a UK charity that helps the travel industry take effective action on sustainable tourism. Our office here in Tobago (Trinidad & Tobago, West Indies) is fully involved in promoting and facilitating tourism projects that are socially, economically and environmentally sustainable.

We would like to be part of your Caribbean forum and learn more about tourism projects across the region. Please include us in your mailing list and articles from now on.

I read your article ‘Tourism - for whose benefit’ in the Island Sun with great interest, especially the part where you wrote, " Much of the food consumed by the tourism industry is still imported from outside the region as are manufactured products and services."

This is of particular interest to my organization the Travel Foundation (www.thetravelfoundation.org.uk) because in 2004 we started two very successful programmes in Tobago that are addressing this issue.

Firstly let me introduce myself - I am Rosemarie Thomas, Programme Coordinator for the Travel Foundation Tobago. Our parent organization, the Travel Foundation is a UK charity that helps the travel industry take effective action on sustainable tourism, which includes generating linkages between the tourism sector and local communities.

Here in Tobago, we have piloted two excellent programmes that are helping to bridge the gap between hotels and locals, and also create a stronger link between agriculture and tourism.

Briefly: the Adopt a Farmer programme, which creates a supply chain between a group of local farmers who supply some of the major hotels in Tobago with fresh agriculture produce. Although by no means a new concept, in Tobago there was previously little communication between farmers and hotels. The Travel Foundation Tobago has been able to bring both groups together in a mutually beneficial relationship. The programme has worked so well that the farmers group is now expanding to greenhouse production in order to keep up with the demand from the hotels.

Our second programme is the Organic School Garden programme, where several primary schools have planted herb gardens and are now regularly supplying the hotels with fresh herbs. We especially love the fact that the children are learning first hand about the benefits of agriculture as a business, and the proceeds from the sale of the herbs go right back to the school, which provides books, gardening tools and more seedlings for the programme.

We also hear loud and clear your call for a regional Tourism Research and Development Institute. This is one of the things that we desperately need in the Caribbean, as there is such a lack of information sharing across the region.

Please share with us your knowledge of any other projects in the region that are similar. We are also very interested in replicating our projects in other Caribbean islands, or working in collaboration with other agencies who may be looking for tourism project partners.

Congratulations on a very incisive article, I look forward to reading more from you!

From Oscar Velázquez, Dominican Republic

I believe the country should be the one who gets the benefit of the income of the tourists. They should think of different working methods. Not always should be there a foreigner who is in charge or have a high position. They should let the locals have more involvement or decision-making in the company. The government must invest more in tourism. I mean in infrastructure, publicity and promotion. Anything that the country can promote and make it stand out from the other countries near-by. The Caribbean can be a very attractive market if they know how to administer or promote it. They should see beyond the box. Anything is possible.

From Samuel Victoria, Dominican Republic

Well, certainly this article is about a troublesome issue for the hotel industry in the Caribbean. It’s even more troublesome for us, the next generation of hotelkeepers in our country.

The present state of affairs of the hotel and tourist industry in the Caribbean – to which we can also refer to as third-world hotel and tourist industry- has fallen into the hands of foreign investment. That is why the article title is “For whom is the benefit?”

Logically, this situation is apparent for whoever takes 5 minutes to analyze the tourism system in the Caribbean.

Most of the hotel chains are foreign-owned, and they are the ones who generate almost all the money. Local chains usually go bankrupt when they face foreign competition or, if not, they are eventually bought by foreign competition.

It is true that foreign investment is positive because it allows the entry of foreign currency, it modernizes local infrastructure and it generates a lot of work. However, the jobs set aside for the local population are mainly minimum wage positions, whilst the foreign personnel is awarded the better positions and wages.

If we think about it, foreign companies only see us as a country of opportunities. They exploit our tourism areas and obtain very cheap labour. Can things be any better for them? I don’t think so. For them this is a better paradise than for any tourist. If no counterattack is made, foreigners will simply absorb us.

Bueno ciertamente este articulo trata un tema que debe ser preocupante para la industria hotelera dle caribe. Mucha mas preocupante debe de ser para nosotros,la proxima generacion de hoteleros en nuestro pais. La actual situacion de la industria hotelera y turistica del caribe, la cual tambien podriamos referirnos como la industria hotelera y turistica de paises tercer mundistas; ha caido en manos de la inversion extranjera. Por eso se titula el foro "for whose the benefit?" (para quien es el beneficio). Logicamente esta situacion es visible para cualquiera que tome 5 minutos en analyzar el sistema turistico del caribe.
La mayoria de las cadenas hoteleras son extranjeras, las cuales son las principales generadoras de dinero; las cadenas locales quiebran frente a la competencia extranjera o si no son asumidas por la misma competencia.

Es cierto que la inversion extranjera es favorable por que genera divisas, moderniza la infraestructura local y genera bastante empleo sin embargo el empleo destinado a la poblacion local, es mayormente un empleo de sueldo minimo, mientras que el personal extranjero adquiere los mejores puestos y los mejores sueldos.

Si nos ponemos a pensar, las empresas extranjeras simplemente nos ven coo un pais de oportunidades; explotan nuestras areas turisticas y obtienen una empleomania a muy , muy bajo costo; acaso puede ser mejor de ahy para ellos??.... no lo creo, para ellos este es mejor paraiso que para cualquier turista. Si a esta situiacion no se le hace contraataque, nosotros simplemente seremos absorvidos por el extranjero.

From David Vitalis , St. Lucia

A brave article by Ronald Sanders. He's right when he says that the governments prefer not to talk about the race issue in the tourism industry. There has been a move by the expatriate companies, including owners of large hotels, to 'darken' (so to speak) their management teams at the local level in response to observations like the ones being made by Mr. Sanders.
However, the management power and decision-making rest with people abroad. Local managers need to wait for orders from outside to answer even basic questions about industrial relations disputes, for instance. It's nice to see a person of status, who has rubbed shoulders with some of the past and present leaders of the region, being so candid in discussing issues affecting the interests of the Caribbean economy.

A different reality

From Faiz Syed Ahmed, Canada

It appears that the article is concerned with the "racial divide" between the owners of tourism facilities (specifically hotels) and the management at those facilities. Furthermore, the article is suggesting that various trade rules (specifically the WTO rules), and various taxation policies, only exacerbate the "racial divide" and "intensify the unevenness of the benefits [of the industry]". By "benefits" I am assuming the author is referring to "profits".

I wonder what the author would prefer instead - perhaps an indigenous Caribbean ownership of the regions tourism facilities? Where Caribbean owners would have the ability to exploit Caribbean tourism managers and workers (as opposed to non-Caribbean owners exploiting Caribbean workers)? What makes this any better?

If one is interested in equality, then facilitating the conditions for an equitable and just distribution of income should be the goal. Perhaps a more meaningful discussion would revolve around the "income divide" between the salaries/wages of the worker, the manager, and the owner of the tourism facilities. I don't think the average worker at a hotel in the Caribbean cares so much that her sub-standard wages are being administered by a Caribbean owner or a non-Caribbean one ... the issue for the workers are their wages.

From Parry Bellot, Dominica

On this one, I totally disagree with the thrust. To compare modern hotel ownership in the 21st century with "plantation operations" of slavery days is being racist. I reject this argument that some will use to generate publicity and for their own agenda. I am willing to debate this any time.
“…to help advance efficiency practices and profitable enterprises in socially desirable ways…”

From Myriam Chambault, Micronesia

Ni sa bula, Vinaka South Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO) for the good news in the Pacific. News from the Caribbean is the opposite from the Pacific. Pacific is still the Paradise of Tourism Industry. See http://www.spto.org/spto/export/sites/spto/news/press.shtml
Vinaka vakalevu to all SPTO

From Heather Grant, St. Vincent & the Grenadines

Having read the last few articles on the above topic, I would like to say that I have observed that foreign business owners are often more generous, offer better opportunities and develop more training programs for local employees than local business owners. I am a Canadian, running a small service-oriented business in Union Island, St. Vincent & the Grenadines. The original purpose in opening this business was to offer decent employment to local people, pay them a fair salary and continue to train them on the job, focusing on tourism particularly. After 7 years, we are still operating and all the employees are local people. I have observed the other businesses on my island and notice that people want to work for foreign owners because they are treated more fairly and generally paid better.

Local business owners must learn to treat their employees with respect, allowing them to make a decent living and giving them the opportunity to move up to better positions, not always keeping them in the lowest paid jobs. The slave mentality continues to a large degree because of the attitude of local employers towards their staff.

From Maria Grech, St. Lucia

I am responding to your email about the perceived imbalance of worker/ownership in the hotel business. I live on a small island - Saint Lucia - and a high percentage of our existing and under construction hotels and other developments are owned wholly or in part by Saint Lucians - too many to list here. Even the Sandals chain and what used to be Club Med are owned by Caribbean nationals. Check it out. As far as local involvement and investment is concerned I think we're doing pretty well.

From Peter Jacobs, Bequia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines

I understand some of the problem that the article tries to say. In St. Vincent tourism is the number one growing product. The government is now on a track to improve the general facilities throughout the country. There is now a cross country road being built, a bridge over the dry river, rebuilding tunnels, the windward highway, the windward water project, an international airport, re-surfacing of minor roads, restoring government buildings so they look aesthetically pleasing with the modern times, banning vehicles that are too old from being imported into the country and sale of land area for hotels to be built. But let us not stop there. If a government was interested in seeing how to move forward maybe St. Vincent and & Grenadines should be looked at.

When the government took power in the year 2001, it started on a project to prepare the country for a general development drive to fill gaps that have being left gaping for the longest time. The schools were repaired, low income houses are being constructed, wages have being raised twice, special road cleaning programs put on for those persons to earn more, university places went up by three times the previous amount, all the construction in the first paragraph is being done by Vincentians.

To be fair St. Vincent and the Grenadines has had it's hotel strike which shut down a US$450 million project. We have learnt our lesson and are not about to repeat it. We have a lot to teach other developing nations as we have a lot to learn from them. Let this medium of communication remain open so we all share of experiences and learn from one another.

From Francis Joseph, Dominica

I read with interest this article and wish to support the effort to encourage discussion and debate on this topic.

I however feel that we must attempt to get rid of the colour tourism mentality, meaning white people coming here to manage and control our assets and property, if this is what is implied.

Also, where do the majority of our tourist come from and where do we, as Caribbean people go to on a holiday? Is it within the Caribbean, do we support ourselves Caribbean tourism? I need some statistics on this please. Most are eager to obtain US visa to say, they chilled out in the Bronx, Long Island or Manhattan, rather than visit Dominica to experience it’s rich
cultural and Independence celebrations from October to November, or even visit another island for sun and action.

With our capital limitations for investment and expansion, I agree that sound policies are needed to develop our industry cohesively to promote each and best build up on the exposure we are gaining.

For example, if we play this colour thing Western governments may retaliate and restrict the huge remittances, from families that are sent to the islands to support home families and which represents high revenue for some islands. The UK in the 60’s under a labour Government, I recall had such restrictions placed on Caribbean peoples and in islands like Dominica, Grenada and St.Vincent where there are no state financed welfare services, that is state unemployment benefits, this is what supports and subsidize many families. That investment must not be underestimated.

So it is our land, but also their money. How do we maintain a fine balance of co-existence?

I agree to integrate and have common policies to promote what is ours, that is the Caribbean agricultural production, manufacturing and services etc. Bear in mind that some of us see our foods as inferior to pasta and other foreign foods and when in Dominica we grew and drank "bush tea", it was seen as primitive and hid it when visitors visited our islands and offered them the imported red rose tea. Now the whole world is drinking and making, money out of bush tea and market it as herbal tea. We should be dominating the world market and industry on this product. What is the matter with us? Oh well, I think I know! We all wave our own individual and, well yes, independent flags.

At the restaurant at the Antigua airport, I once asked for provisions, I received a firm response, " We doh have that kind of food here". This is an airport that I and many Caribbean travellers pass through very often, It is a hub and yet that restaurant does not see the benefit to promote Caribbean foods. It is clear that their policy is to cater ONLY for non-Caribbean tourists, and they feel proud doing it. That is where the plantation mentality still lies, not only the policy of the proprietor and his hotel but well articulated by the workers on the floor (or on the plantation). So, you see we still have work to do on our marketing, ignorance as to what is ours and go for it like any Westerner.
God Bless the Caribbean

From Jaffar Mouhhidine, Comoros

Hi, I have the impression that the notion of tourism does not exist in Comoros.
A big sensitization is necessary or even a program of education in this domain to the authorities and to the Comorian peoples. One has to share - because the nature is very beautiful.

From Alan Whitaker, Bequia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines

I wish to respond to a very interesting article about racial divide in Caribbean tourism.

There is an assumption in this article that (white) expatriates have easier access to capital for business investment here in the Caribbean. This is a blatantly untrue racist assumption and I am very disappointed to see such ideas reinforced by Small Islands Voice. Secondly the notion that a lack of easy capital is a reason for failure to succeed is an insidious product of a victim culture which holds everyone back.

The opportunities here in the small islands of the Caribbean are abundant and small businesses are much easier for people here to develop than for people in more competitive continental locations.

For example we have invested our very small personal resources and dedicated hard work over a period of 6 years and have built a successful tourism business which contributes significantly to the local economy. We are now a strong team of 14 people and we depend absolutely upon each others skills and experiences.

The capital for this business development is ideas, skills, hard work, dedication, determination and above all the prioritization of quality of service for the customers.

In the 1960's three men and their uncle cut some trees and made by hand without capital equipment an 80 ft sailing schooner to carry cargo between the islands, the determination and long term thinking of these men has provided a livelihood for them, their families and all who worked with them for two generations as well as connecting the islands and playing a very significant role in their development. This provides us with inspiration to think long term and apply our own abilities and resources to achieve tremendous results. We are gradually restoring this vessel with very limited resources and we are determined to continue to develop this business for the benefit of all.

Non-Small Island Developing States situations; Other businesses

From Tom Bowling, Marshall Islands

This letter is in regards to comments made in the article 'Small Island Business'. Many of the issues discussed have good logic, and well describe the situations at hand. However, I do disagree with a few aspects of the final paragraph:

"Thirdly, our company, an aquaculture business, has established a cooperative corporation in the Marshall Islands. This way it empowers the native residents by making the company employee-owned and democratically controlled. Thus the company doesn't operate independently of the employees - it is the employees’. This is contrastingly different from the traditional capitalistic model which is an old paradigm that must be phased out because it doesn't operate upon the principle of sustainable development. "

If this is related to the sea-cucumber relocation and harvest project that has been pushed onto the locals lately, then we need to clear a few things up. I have tried to communicate with the project leader on island several times and failed. The idea is not aquaculture, nor is it mariculture. 'Culture' directly involves the 'propagation' of sea animals which then makes them and aquacultured animal. The methods described for this particular form of 'harvest' are not suitable, and they actually damage the reputable 'real' aquaculture that is going on in the area. In the presentation, the company also connotated that all forms of aquaculture are bad for the environment except for theirs.

I’d like to point out that our 'capitalistic' model has been in the RMI for 6 years, employs 10 Marshallese (with extended families all dependant) and have produced in excess of several hundred thousand clams and corals that would have been stripped off the reef in an unsustainable manner if we had not produced them at our farm. We ARE a sustainable Industry and we are actively involved in the local community and we pay the highest wages on island.

Your letter had me in agreement until your final and misleading comments. If you are going to claim aquaculture, then we need to see the evidence. Otherwise we are talking about controlled harvest, which is not sustainable. A cooperative aquaculture business is nice in principle, but we all know what happens once the product is moved off island.

Your comments are both misleading and potentially damaging to industries that already exist with a vision and a sense of moral judgment.

From Patrick Brown, Canada

I write for a newspaper (www.islandtides.com) which serves the Islands on the west coast of Canada. We deal with local, Canadian, and world issues. Although we are served by ferries from the British Columbia mainland, many of our problems are similar to those of smaller islands worldwide, and I was interested to read the postings on your forum. We, too, have tourist-based economies.

From Wendy Forse, South Africa

I am not sure how I got onto this mailing list, but am glad that I am. Your articles and comments are interesting and although not from a small island, many of the issues are those of developing countries and issues that are common to areas within South Africa. I particularly enjoyed the comments on tourism and relating it to colonialism and a certain kind of exploitation. I work in the field of rural development and development planning and see how "eco-tourism" is being so heavily promoted but have some misgivings as to how it is actually being implemented. Many of the "joint ventures" and partnership arrangements with local community stakeholders do not seem to work out. We need to understand why and more importantly, to ask whether this "eco-tourism" and/or "cultural-tourism" is the answer to local economic development in the remoter, less developed areas. Am not sure that it is. Keep the articles coming!

From Jaye Green

In 1988 I sat on a hearing into the Free Zone. Apparently, the Koreans had demanded $1 an hour and of course, the American company couldn't pay that, so moved the factory to Jamaica, because of all the perks. The Factory was 'managed' by Koreans who seemed to believe that however bad the treatment they had received they would make it worse for the Jamaicans. There were a few American 'bosses' and a few minor local 'bosses', but the bulk of the management was Korean. There were over 29k jobs in the Free Zone.

Locals were paid very badly, every single labour law was breached. The government was very upset with the trend of the inquiry and it was spoken of on the floor of Parliament, because if we 'chased' the Factory away, where would be the jobs for these 29k slaves. Sorry, employees. The job these women did was piece work. So, one did sleeves, one did buttonholes, one did pockets. None did a whole garment. After the Inquiry a number of these factories closed and moved to other places were they could pay less and get more work, i.e. China where the term 'slave labour' is not a misnomer.

From Tony Law, Hornby Island, Canada

The impact of tourism is also felt on small islands in the north. Hornby Island is a small island in the Gulf of Georgia on the west coast of Canada. A challenge we are facing is with housing. People living on locally-derived incomes cannot compete in the real estate market with in-comers buying second homes and retirement homes. Non-resident home owners can make significant money from these houses by renting them out to tourists. They can make more money renting them to tourists for a few weeks of the year than they can from renting them as homes for local people. Year-round rentals are now scarce.

Most year-round residents live on low incomes derived from service industry work, arts and crafts. Many are constantly having to move. Most of the work is in the summer and some folks are doing two or three jobs while living in a tent. Consequently a lot of younger residents have given up and left. Now our school enrolment has dropped to a level where closure is a possibility. For the first time ever our volunteer fire department was not able to find new recruits. Businesses are having trouble finding workers.

Everyone recognizes that tourism is a valued part of our economy. But at the same time, it is hard to maintain a viable community when the people needed to keep the community going can't access stable, affordable housing. We are also committed to maintaining the rural, modestly-developed character of our island.

We have formed an Islanders' Secure Land Association - a community land trust to hold land for housing purposes outside of the real estate market and we have a potential donation of land in the offing. This will help some people have access to long-term housing, but it won't solve the problem.

How are other small islands experiencing this phenomenon? How are they dealing with it?

From L Potter, British Virgin Islands

Sounds good but not so simple. Cooperative is good for what it is good for. It works very well as a credit Union.

The article is clear that developing countries have a structural problem which puts them on the loose end at all times and it is the wage structure. So long as a differential exist in the wage structure what happens will continue to occur. The world is now a global village, therefore we should behave that way - move all our wages to international wage. Therefore the locals will benefit and be able to contribute to their country's ongoing development and stop the drain on the countries resources.

One may ask how will the countries afford the wage bill? My answer is - the same way the developed countries afford it. The dollar multiplies in the local economy and the local treasury swells. Agriculture and local industry must be supported. Thus everyone is treated the same especially as most people shop in the developed world all the time.

Inflation cannot be a problem until wages surpass what they are in the rest of the global village. Thus, let us stop fooling ourselves and allow our people a decent wage and stop playing in the hands of the so-called developer.

Other responses

From Lois Blumenthal, Cayman Islands

This is off the current topic, but an up and coming issue for everyone.

Re Wind Energy and possible serious threats to bats & birds.

Storm damage and rust may make our salty climate unsuitable for wind energy projects anyway, but please read the two docs pasted here from Dr. Merlin Tuttle at Bat Conservation International - an organization that prides itself on non-confrontational efforts and negotiation. The need for green energy is serious, but the impulse to search for easy answers has created an opening for the marketing of a technology that may not be thoroughly researched. As Caribbean countries look for cleaner energy sources, we need to consider the possibly huge impacts on wildlife and proceed accordingly. It need not be "all or nothing" - work is being done to identify ways to reduce or eliminate the impact of windmills on wildlife - and creating a demand for those methods will accelerate their identification and development.

My understanding is that some paint an overly rosy picture of the amount of energy that can be generated by wind with the technology currently available - There is a very narrow window of "perfect winds" and that wind speeds higher or lower require that the windmills be turned off. So the "average" wind speed extrapolations are not meaningful.

I'm far from an expert on this, but more information is available from Bat Conservation International (BCI) www.batcon.org
The contact person for Wind Energy at BCI is Ed Arnett - earnett@batcon.org
See article: Impacts of Wind Energy Development on Wildlife at http://www.vawind.org/Assets/Docs/Key%20Issues%2001-06-06.pdf
Lois Blumenthal
Bat Conservation Program Director
National Trust for the Cayman Islands

Caribbean Bat Conservation Coordinator
Bat Conservation International
Box 4 BT
Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands KY1 1601
(345) 947-2248 or (345) 916-6784
www.caymanwildlife.org
www.nationaltrust.org.ky

From Myriam Chambault , Micronesia

Hello SIV, is there any chance to help the small islands for the tsunami damage? All islands must have a warning signal up to date equipment to help our poor people survived and happy in their land for example the Solomon islands were no chance to run away before mister bad tsunami came through their village. Please help. Thank you.

From Helen Chumbe, Zanzibar

Greetings from Zanzibar. We have a problem of beach/coastal erosion as do many countries and after some research have learned about geotubes (http://www.geotubes.com) would it be possible for you to write and article and inform all the SIV readers about this innovation which I am sure they can use (even make their own versions). I would love to write an article but have no time.

From Lisa Fong, Dominican Republic

Hello, my name is Lisa Fong and I study tourism. I would like to give my opinion or commentary about the article from “Small Islands Voice”.

I totally agree with establishment of this initiative since it allows the islands’ own inhabitants to give their opinion and it lets these opinions to be heard. As we all know, small islands, precisely for being small, are not given that much of attention. The good thing is that after having all the opinions, there is a committee of young people that chooses and determines it for the future. This is an important part of Small Islands Voice: it allows recognizing the value of youth capabilities.

To finalize, I want to add that this initiative tries to help small islands with a meaningful contribution for carrying out activities that provide sustainability to the people. I am very happy that this initiative has been created, so that small islands will have a good future.
Thank you for your attention.

Buenas, me llamo Lisa Fong y estudio Turismo. Quisiera dar mi opinión o comentario acerca del artículo Small Islands Voice.

Estoy muy de acuerdo en la creación de esta iniciativa ya que ayuda mucho a las pequeñas islas en tener un buen futuro y ser más sostenible, ya que esta iniciativa deja que su propia población puedan dar sus opiniones y que estas opiniones sean oidas. Como todos sabemos, las islas pequeñas, por ser pequeñas, no muchas personas le dan un interés importante. Lo bueno es que despues de tener todas las opiniones, tienen un comité de jóvenes que lo que hacen es elegir y determinarlo para el futuro, este es una parte importante de Small Islands Voice, que pueda dejar ver las capacidades de sus gentes jóvenes.

Para ya finalizar, esta iniciativa trata de ayudar a las pequeñas islas con una contribucíón significativa para las realizaciones de actividades que aporta sostenibilidad al pueblo. Me alegro mucho de que hayan creao esto para las islas pequeñas para que tengan buen futuro.

Gracias por su atención. Se despide de ustedes

From Miguel Fortes, Philippines

Indeed it amazes me to realize how insensitive, almost inhuman, the major thrust of the current economies is, which is towards megacities, with their long-term economic non-viability, overuse of inappropriate technology, social unacceptability and environmental unfriendliness. A microcosm of this scenario is very evident in many islands in the Western Pacific (this includes SE Asia), which has been feeling the sting of what has been described for the Bahamas and the island of Eleuthera. I say we have the same problem. But the way I see how it emanated here in the Philippines is slightly different, because it goes down deeper into the very core of what a Filipino is!

An analysis of the Filipino character (as Mr. Tujan, Jr. in his book, Transformative Education, said) shows that our traits and values are rooted in our social structures. They emanate from the politico-cultural system of patronage and feudalism. Patronage has no concept of individual self-worth or self-determination but only of one's position in relation to the 'patron'. Hence, the formulation and implementation of Philippines 2000 (by the then President Fidel Ramos), with education, as the harbinger of development, envisioning an English-speaking, technically proficient labor force that fits the requirements of foreign investors and the development of high-tech industries. But this created more problems than solutions.

On the other hand, patronage is rooted in the backward feudalism that, unfortunately, still determines the main fabric of Philippine society. It is these two deeply rooted aspects of Philippine culture that underlie our current educational system, our behavior and values, in fact, the very core of Filipinos. What we now know about the Bahamas, Eleuthera, and what underlies the true nature of development in Boracay in the Philippines, Bali in Indonesia, Phuket in Thailand, and in so many others...they are all underlain by the same vicious reason: patronage, feudalism or their equivalents. As long as landlordism and patronage exist, the majority of Filipinos and of people in similar situation will never know what it is to be a citizen of a country. We will never know what democracy and human rights mean.

Hence, the challenge to our educational systems is how they can become agents towards ending poverty and underdevelopment, far removed from the interventions of outsiders. The answer to this challenge is how they should respond to the problems patronage and feudalism have engendered in our societies early in our histories and which have been tolerated to prosper until this day. This is a formidable challenge to leadership!

From Hazel Heyer, Florida, USA

Can I use snippets of your article below to develop my story? Thanks.

From Bob Morris

Just read the piece by Heather Grant. Do you know how I might get in touch with her? Our paths have crossed often in my trips to Union Island and the Grenadines and I'd just like to drop her a line. www.bobmorris.net

From Ene Owoh

Thanks for the wonderful contributions in the past and present, please keep the flag flying and all the best.

From Miguel Hereveri Pakarati, Papua New Guinea

My name is Miha, in July of 2006 I participated in the 1st Festival of the Jeunesse du Pacifique as the Head of the Rapanui Delegation. We know that in 2009 the 2nd Festival will be held in Fiji. As for us it is very difficult to obtain the resources to send our young people (preferably of university level), we wanted to consult about the possibility to fund at least 20 young people from Rapanui.

We always received the Small Islands Voice bulletin and thus we knew about the internet forum. We want greater direction in generating conscience and hope in the young people who, lamentably, could not attend the 1st Festival, to do as much as possible to take them to Fiji the 2009.

We, 9 years ago began as an independent movement by the Development and Preservation of Cultura and Medio ambiente Rapanui (Te Puku Tapu o te Miru), that accept all who are interested in this cause and work for that reason. We looked for possibilities in the outside for the young people in the different areas (music, literature, agriculture, etc.)

Our website http://www.herehara.scd.cl/ will provide all the information about us and also we have a blog where we declare, generally, our displeasure with policies that affects to Rapa Nui. We do not have a legal personality (which creates complications when soliciting resources), but we work mainly to harness the Rapanui side of young people who have one foreign parent (specially when they are Chilean). For that reason we register young people that live or grew up in Chile and we give priority them, although most of them return to Rapa Nui every summer, there are many they do not know the Island or they have little opportunities to visit it.

We request your help in engaging these young people as they will be the one who, in a very near future, assume the responsibilities on Rapa Nui, their town. At the moment I do not reside in Rapa Nui due to lack of resources and problems of health. However, I am dedicating myself to the Rapanui Youth that reside in Chile.

From J H Primavera, Philippines

The attached paper shows mixed results from coastal (eco)tourism in the Philippines.

From John Rowley, UK

Thanks for this. We have reproduced this article in www.peopleandplanet.net
as you may see at http://www.peopleandplanet.net/doc.php?id=2942

From Jacquie Ruan, Anguilla

I thought this came across as rather racist.

From Karen Thompson, Jamaica

Do you have any article on globalization as it relates to the Caribbean can send to me? I would really appreciate.

From Tsiguereda Walelign, Brussels

It is very interesting article, if you continue such kind of information and analysis please put me in your mailing list.

From Kay Wallis

Please send me your April 2006 Disrespecting Our Oceans report. Please.
Thank you so very much!!

From Writer, Guyana

Posted.
http://propagandapress.org/2007/03/31/colonialism-in-the-21st-century-c-corbin-and-h-grant/

From Writer, Samoa

I appreciate your views and you are 100% correct. However it’s a long process for the 'real change' to effective. Let us not forget that it exists in developing countries as well. Once again thanks for your views.

From Writer, Turcs & Caicos Islands

Thank you for your views.