On February 6, 2002 approximately 115 volunteers from Disney Cruise Lines’ Disney Wonder, Royal Caribbean International’s Radiance of the Seas, St. Maarten Tourism Department, St. Maarten National Heritage Foundation and St. Maarten Pride Foundation teamed up for the 2002 FCCA Environmental Beautification Project held in St. Maarten.

Volunteers from each organization gathered at Mullet Bay and were disbursed into two groups, starting from opposite ends of the beach; meeting in the middle; spending more than two hours combing the beach for trash and debris. The Disney crew Volunt-EARS, as they referred to each other and the volunteers from Royal Caribbean, noted that the majority of the garbage were bottle caps, straws, soda cans and cigarette butts.

Mr. Rommel Charles, Managing Director, St. Maarten Ports Authority delivered a brief speech in recognition of this project; “On behalf of the island of St. Maarten, we would like to say how pleased we are to be associated with the environmental beautification project. It’s projects such as these that play a significant role in stimulating the attention of our local people and getting them interested in the cruise industry. We look forward to collaborating with the FCCA and the Cruise Lines on projects such as these in the future.”

Russell Daya, Environmental Officer-Disney Magic, Disney Cruise Line, organized the volunteers from Disney and expressed his views on the project. “We at Disney Cruise Line value the environment greatly, as being part of the Walt Disney Company. The beautiful island of St. Maarten plays host to our guests from the Disney Magic every week and by asking our crew members to volunteer for the beautification project is our way of giving back to the community.”

At the conclusion of the beach cleanup, volunteers were treated to a barbecue lunch, followed by a volleyball tournament. The days’ refreshments and activities were sponsored by B&C Beverages Distribution N.V., SXM Tender Services, Philipsburg Liquor Store, Caribbean Liquors and Tobacco, Caribbean Pure, Barefoot Terrance, Budweiser, Heineken (Food Center), Prime Distributors, St. Marten Ports Authority and SXM Red Cross.

The Environmental Beautification Project is staged throughout the Caribbean region each year to enable the Member Lines of the FCCA to promote the importance of environmental awareness and to reinforce the partnership between the cruise industry and the destinations. Upcoming FCCA Environmental Beautification Projects this year includes: Barbados, Curacao and the Cayman Islands.

If you are not yet a member of the FCCA, contact Victoria Lalta for more information at (954) 441-8881, or by e-mail, vlalta@f-cca.com.

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