Public Statements

Hotel Association Going Green with Blue Flag

The V.I. Hotel and Tourism Association is going green with its participation in the internationally recognized Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE)’s Blue Flag Program. Five of the territory’s beaches have been nominated by the Hotel Association for inclusion.

“It’s a win-win for tourism and the environment,” Hotel Association President Lisa Hamilton told about 40 people Friday at the organization’s meeting at the Westin Resort and Villas on St. John.

The St. Thomas beaches are Lindbergh Bay in front of the Emerald Beach Hotel, Magens Bay and Great Bay by the Ritz-Carlton St. Thomas Hotel. On St. Croix, the beach at the Palms at Pelican Cove is on the list. Trunk Bay on St. John rounds out those nominated for Blue Flag certification. Read More.

Public Statements

EAST actively participates in public hearings with our comments. This
includes statements to the legislature, the coastal zone management
commission (CZM) and in other public forums. Please see a listing our
most recent statements here.

botany bayEAST- VICS testimony on Bill #28 -0191
…We wholeheartedly approve of this bill for health reasons but we would like to offer several reasons why it should be enacted from an environmental prospective. Carcinogenic emissions from cigarette smoke is harmful and deadly, we all understand that, but if we are about to ban smoking why not go after other emissions?…Read More

Earth Day Editorial
It was forty years ago this week on April 22, 1970 that the modern
environmental movement was born. Please take a moment this week and
celebrate the many events around the territory including our visit to
Bovoni to see what happens to our waste and the many ways to reduce
the waste stream into the landfill and be a part of the solution. The
first Earth Day in 1970 led to the creation of the United States
Environmental Protection Agency in December of that year, which led
later to the passage of the Clean Air, Clean Water, and Endangered
Species acts. Prior to the establishment of the EPA, the national
government was not structured to make a coordinated attack on the
pollutants which harm human health and our environment. Read More

Do you have an environmental concern?  Email us!

Environmental Association of St. Thomas and St John