The Editor, Sir:

It is of great concern to the Countrystyle Community Tourism Network that we continue to pursue development without ensuring that the environmental laws are followed and that environmentalists are seen as 'anti-development' persons rather than 'ambassadors for peace' trying to protect, preserve our beautiful country for the people of Jamaica, and to ensure that the abuse of our natural, heritage and cultural resources does not continue.

We are honoured to be members of the Jamaica Environmental Advocacy Network (JEAN) and to be dedicated to the right approach to any development, not just tourism.

The exposure to what is happening, in general, throughout Jamaica is important for us to include in our educational community tourism programme for the communities wishing to participate in tourism. The upcoming International Community Tourism Conference in Jamaica in June will feature an environmental educational forum for communities, including preparing them for dealing with climate changes.

Over the past years, we have been appalled of the constant disregard for preserving and conserving our country's natural resources for the future of our children. It appears to us that this has now become the 'norm' and it is time for the everyone to get involved.

Serious situation

The meeting in Runaway Bay was an example of how serious our situation is and we would like to thank John Maxwell, Wendy Lee, Diana McCaulay and others who continue to lobby and share information on what is happening to us.

We are asking for the intervention of the ministries of Tourism and Health and Environment, the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association and other public and private sector groups which are committed to sustainable tourism development.

We need to have an urgent environmental summit with all stakeholders to take stock of the realistic situation of our country and together develop solutions. We cannot continue the unsustainable path we are now on - Jamaica has a crisis in crime and education, but we also have an environmental crisis!

I am, etc.,

DIANA McINTYRE-PIKE

countrystylecommunitytouris

@gmail.com

Chairman/CEO

Countrystyle Community

Tourism Network

Mandeville, Manchester