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 On Thursday, June 25th, representatives of the Bocas Sustainable Tourism Alliance (BSTA) appeared on the local Cable Chicho evening news show to introduce the organization to the Bocas community. Luis Mou Sue, the BSTA Vice President, and Catta Monahan, the Waste Management Committee (WMC) Coordinator, discussed with Miguel, the Cable Chicho anchorman, the history and purpose of the BSTA.
Luis focused on explaining the geotourism concept of the National Geographic Society, and the importance of creating a sustainable tourism cluster in Bocas. He emphasized that the rapid pace of development of the tourism sector here threatens the viability of the region’s natural resources, which are the primary attraction for tourists. Therefore, a concerned and diverse group of tourism stakeholders, representing hotels, restaurants, boat drivers, indigenous communities, and others came together in March 2009, (supported by the USAID CCAW program grant) to create the BSTA – with the mission to promote Bocas as a geotourism destination, and to develop tourism that preserves the region’s cultural and environmental resources. Luis and Miguel then discussed the imminent opening of the BSTA office on 3rd street, and the BSTA membership benefits and rates for local business owners watching the program.
Next, Catta explained that the BSTA members formed the Waste Management Committee (WMC) to address their common concern that the waste management practices in Bocas are threatening the viability of sustainable tourism development. She discussed the committee’s current project of producing an educational public service announcement about these issues, and future plans to expand the recycling infrastructure in Bocas. When the conversation about the waste management issues in Bocas predictably turned toward the municipal dump site on Isla Colon, Miguel concurred that the current solid waste management is a huge concern for the well-being of the Bocas community, and urged viewers to become more conscientious of their waste production.
The interview closed with Catta directing viewers toward the BSTA website for more information, and to keep on the lookout for both the BSTA office opening and the public service announcement debut on the program soon. The BSTA would like to thank Miguel and the Cable Chicho production staff for the invitation to appear on the show and for their support to the organization.
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