Environment and development in coastal regions and in small islands

Coastal region and small island papers 16

Annex 1  Opinion survey logistics

Annex 2  Schools involved in the Small Islands Voice internet-based youth forum (Phase 2, 2003)

Annex 3  Quantitative summaries of Small Islands Voice internet-based global forum

SMALL ISLANDS VOICE
GLOBAL INTERNET-BASED FORUM
www.sivglobal.org

Summary of discussion on road construction in Palau, Pacific: www.sivglobal.org/?read=1
Date of discussions: Oct–Nov 2002
Number of persons on distribution list: 7,000
Number of substantive responses: 45

Main issue
Will the construction of a major new road in Palau bring economic benefits at the expense of the natural environment?

27% said development is inevitable

• development is going to happen anyway

• economic development versus environmental preservation

• young people need development

• public awareness and education is important

• a spiritual base is needed for sound development

27% said environmental concerns need to be included in development

• ensure island residents care for their environment

• conduct environmental impact assessments and monitor development

• establish local and global standards for development

• enforce environmental laws

• designate protected areas

11% said development should be planned in phases

• a master plan is needed with development properly phased

• community planning is important

9% said stop this type of development

• fight all development

• large organizations exploit the environmental resources of small islands

4% emphasized the need for good governance and transferability

22% of the correspondents had separate ideas

• ranging from the influence of foreign television on young people to the importance of democracy

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Summary of discussion on beach access in Trinidad and Tobago, Caribbean: www.sivglobal.org/?read=12
Date of discussions: Nov 2002 – Feb 2003
Number of persons on distribution list: 9,000
Number of substantive responses: 31

Main issue
Should a developer in Trinidad and Tobago be allowed to restrict access to the beach?

77% support unrestricted public access to all beaches

• public beach access is a right of all islanders

• there needs to be access to the beach and along the beach, as discussed in an ongoing controversy in Bequia

• legislation and development plans should reflect that beaches are important public resources (equivalent to public parks) and need to protected and shared

• fully utilize the media and petitions to solve beach access problems

• even non-violent actions opposing beach access restrictions may result in court cases

• beach fences have had to physically removed in some islands (e.g. Barbuda, Grenada) 10% support unrestricted public access to most beaches

• in some islands it may be acceptable for some upscale tourism resorts to restrict public beach access

• such restrictions should be a collective decision involving all people living on the island

• public access to entire islands may be restricted

3% support unrestricted public access for recreational purposes (not fishing) to all beaches

• in some Pacific islands traditional land tenure customs exist which may restrict outsiders from enjoying recreation and fishing at some beaches

10% discussed other issues

• land ownership by foreigners

• wise practices in very remote islands

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Summary of discussion on tourism policy in Seychelles, Indian Ocean: www.sivglobal.org/?read=20

Date of discussions: Feb–May 2003
Number of persons on distribution list: 10,000
Number of substantive responses: 27

Main issue
Should upmarket resorts be the main thrust of a national tourism policy in Seychelles?

48% support the idea that a tourism policy based mainly on upmarket resorts is misguided

• an emphasis on large resorts cuts out many local players and may cause social problems

• large foreign-owned establishments often result in profits leaving the island

• small establishments provide more benefit to local people, and to the local economy, especially if they are well marketed

• government policy in some islands favours large investors; such a policy may have human-rights implications

4% support the concept that an upmarket tourism policy provides many unique benefits

• benefits include increased spending power, a market for special services, limited environmental impact

19% support the view that a good tourism policy requires cooperation from all societal sectors

• dialogue and active involvement of government agencies, NGOs, the private sector and communities is essential for an effective tourism policy that is beneficial to the island

• tourism needs to provide for the development of local people as well as supplying foreign exchange

• in view of the vulnerability of the tourism industry to global events, a diversified economy is sounder than one based purely on tourism

29% discussed other issues

• people need to take action

• governments need to implement laws

• this forum needs to be more interactive

• long-distance air travel is damaging to the environment

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Summary of discussion on foreign investment in Cook Islands, Pacific: www.sivglobal.org/?read=30

Date of discussions: May–Jul 2003
Number of persons on distribution list: 12,000
Number of substantive responses: 20

Main issue
Does large-scale foreign investment benefit small islands?

65% support the idea that large-scale foreign investment does not benefit small islands

• governments have too free a hand to negotiate away a country’s property, and to issue development permits

• countries need to revisit their development plans and encourage only those investments that promote the full involvement of local residents

• foreign investment is only a symptom of the problems faced by small islands, the root causes are overpopulation and corrupt leaders

• Cook Islands stand to lose their unique identity due to the foreign investment and importation of foreign labour

5% support the concept that large-scale foreign investment does benefit small islands

• foreign investment fuels the construction industry and creates more jobs

30% discussed related issues namely political corruption, trade policies and education

• paying a reduced number of politicians a generous salary will lessen corruption

• political corruption is a fact of life in all countries, and there is a need to accept this and find ways to work around it

• products from less developed countries, such as small islands, do not receive a fair market price, thereby leading to further inequalities between the rich and the poor

• young people have insufficient drive and work ethic to achieve their goals

• part of the solution to creating good leaders and responsible members of society among the young lies in creating bridges between home, school and communities

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Summary of discussion on increased youth crime and violence in Caribbean islands: www.sivglobal.org/?read=36

Date of discussions: Jul–Sep 2003
Number of persons on distribution list: 14,000
Number of substantive responses: 26

Main issue
What is the solution to the increased rate of crime and violence among young people?

46% supported the view that harsher penalties are not the answer to increased crime and violence, instead there is a need to focus on education; child upbringing; strengthening family, Christian and spiritual values; improving communication and listening to young people

• USA has the highest imprisonment rate in the world and is still a very violent society

• take out the guns from small island society

• economic materialism and drug trafficking are major factors in increased violence

4% supported the view that harsher penalties are the answer to increased crime and violence

12% felt that violent television programmes and videos are a major cause of youth violence

12% felt that violent television programmes and videos are not a major cause of youth violence

• such videos only reflect existing human violence

• there is a need to develop good programmes and set standards

26% discussed other issues

• small islands need to promote and develop a culture of peace

• discussion is very timely because of recent violence

• there is a need to highlight good stories on this forum

• rehabilitation of criminals in small islands is very difficult

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Summary of discussion on the export of spring water from St Vincent and the Grenadines, Caribbean: www.sivglobal.org/?read=44

Date of discussions: Sep–Nov 2003
Number of persons on distribution list: 14,000
Number of substantive responses: 27

Main issue
Should spring water from a small island (St Vincent and the Grenadines) be bottled and exported?

44% of the responses supported the view that a small island should export its water resources provided local needs are met first and there is full consultation with resource owners
Related points included:

• cost benefit analysis should be conducted to ensure the country benefits in the long term

• resource owners and investors have different expectations

• profits from water export be used for improving national water distribution systems

• need to protect water sources

22% of the responses were of the view that a small island should not export its water resources
Related points included:

• water is a priceless commodity and needed for the future

• export provides more benefit for foreign investors than host country

• small island reservoirs are too small to consider export

34% of the responses discussed other issues, which included:

• support for exporting to those who do not have water resources

• spiritual and traditional view of land and water resources

• use of island water resources for tourism purposes while local residents are deprived of water

• need to conserve water reserves such as wetlands

• ways to reduce water usage

• lack of political will to manage water resources

• plastic bottles filling up landfills

• islands have the option to sell their natural resources for profit

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Summary of discussion on the ‘right’ type of tourism development for Aitutaki, Cook Islands, Pacific: www.sivglobal.org/?read=50

• Date of discussions: Jan–Mar 2004
  Number of persons on distribution list: 15,000
  Number of substantive responses: 20

Main issue
Should future tourism development on a small outer island (Aitutaki in Cook Islands) be small scale or large scale?

50% of the responses supported the view that small-scale tourism development, based on simple island lifestyles, was most appropriate for outer islands
Related points included:

• three principles suggested for successful small-scale tourism development were: local ownership, being honest with visitors about services provided, and remaining true to your island by not trying to match external expectations

• visitors appreciate being treated as individuals and as part of a family

• large-scale development in small islands is often not sustainable and creates many environmental problems

• new information and communication technologies can benefit small-scale properties in their marketing strategy

5% of the responses supported the view that large-scale tourism development was preferable for outer islands
Related points included:

• quality is better than quantity and everyone in a small island benefits from the trickledown effect of a large resort

45% of the responses discussed other issues, which included:

• sharing experiences and solutions through this forum is very beneficial for those living in small islands

• in Pacific islands there is a need for more truth in tourism advertising and a shift in service attitudes

• some small outer islands are already over-developed and suffering various pollution problems

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