Under the Surface: Le Barthelemy скачать в хорошем качестве

Under the Surface: Le Barthelemy

Opening its doors in 2016, Le Barthelemy Hotel and Spa is nestled between a lagoon and the beautiful Grand Cul Du Sac bay, on the Caribbean island of St. Barth. The readers of Conde Nast Travelers recognized the hotel in 2020 as the “Best Resort in the Caribbean”.The readers of Conde Nast and many locals on the island may not know of this 5-star hotel’s very dirty secret. Since 2019, analysis of water samples taken directly from Le Barthelemy’s water outlet have shown to contain unacceptably high levels of nitrogen, phosphates, and e coli. Le Barthelemy has been dumping hundreds of thousands of litres of contaminated water directly into the ecosystem of the bay and lagoon; the same picturesque environment where they invite their guests to swim, kite surf, snorkel and participate in other pleasure activities. Excessive nitrogen and phosphates cause major problems when they go directly into the ocean. Le Barthelemy's proximity to the still water lagoon and the bay of Grand Cul Du Sac means these pollutants, in their high concentration, do not have the time to filter through the earth. Instead, they go directly into the ocean resulting in algae growth, contributing to the destruction of the protected ecosystem, and increasing costs for the local government. Equally alarming, Le Barthelemy’s high e coli output, last sampled at 800% of the regulated maximum for hospitality wastewater, is a common indicator for the presence of untreated sewage harmful to humans. The Grand Cul Du Sac itself is designated as a protected nature reserve, home to fish, sea turtles and coral reefs, enjoyed by tourists and locals alike. Two formal notices have been issued to Le Barthelemy by the local government. First in January 2019 and again in January 2021. Each time offering 6 months to fix the problem, while threatening to lower the luxury hotel’s 5 star rating, and each time no change. Lab reports continue to show no improvement. Le Barthelemy maintains a 5 star rating. In 2021, the same owner of Le Barthelemy began rebuilding a hotel lost during 2017’s hurricane Irma, in the bay of St. Jean. The new hotel, named L’Etoile, a welcome addition to the island, is accompanied by a less than welcome permit for the construction of a 5000 square metre underground car park. Two independently conducted studies claim such a development would irreversibly damage the bay. High risk of flooding, submersion, coastline decline, and accelerated erosion are some of the scary conclusions of both studies. Pollution during the construction and the hotel’s operation have expert’s very concerned. Top of the list concerning experts is sewage treatment, the exact same problem which has already been ignored by Le Barthelemy. This same proximity of the bay is not enough to properly filter wastewater and will result in another environmental & economic disaster, as St. Jean beach is St Barth’s most popular. Despite multiple protests, change.org petitions with thousands of signatures, and two studies confirming the environmental impact, development continues. All hotels must be held accountable for the waste and damage they create, as responsible custodians of the environment they sell to their guests. Please contact the local government who is ultimately responsible for enforcing its own regulations and national health standards. So far, it has failed in its legal obligations of protecting not only the environment, but the population’s health, by remaining unusually passive. Failure to act rapidly is also compromising the economic future by letting irresponsible private interests affect the island’s international reputation. Write to President Magras and the Conseil territorial [email protected], Send messages on instagram to @lebarthelemy