PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad – Blue Flag is an internationally-recognized, voluntary, environmental award presented to organizations and facilities that reach the appropriate level of environmental management and education in respect of their beaches and marinas. The Blue Flag program is coordinated by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) and was established in France in 1985. It has been implemented throughout most of Europe since 1987.
For the third consecutive year, Trinidad and Tobago will raise the coveted Blue Flag at the Las Cuevas Beach Facility, having been recognized by the Blue Flag International Jury in September 2016.
In order to receive a Blue Flag designation, a beach or marina must meet strict criteria including the assessment of water quality, the provision of environmental education and information, environmental management, and the provision of safety and security services.
In Trinidad and Tobago, the Blue Flag program is coordinated by Asclepius Green, a local non-governmental organization (NGO) and the Tourism Development Company Limited (TDC), in an effort to ensure sustainable development of the sector and the proper management of human impacts on the environment, whilst ensuring high levels of visitor satisfaction.
At Blue Flag beaches like Las Cuevas there are dedicated management committees set up to conduct environmental audits of the site and its facilities. The committee is also responsible for ensuring that nearby habitats (such as nesting leatherbacks in Las Cuevas) are protected and managed sustainably.
Additionally, there is a twelve-member National Jury comprised of representatives of the Ministry of Tourism, the Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Health, the Institute of Marine Affairs, the Environmental Management Authority, the Water and Sewage Authority, SWMCOL, Councils of Presidents for the Environment (COPE), Las Cuevas Community Council, the Maracas Police Branch, the Division of Tourism and Transportation in the Tobago House of Assembly, the Yachting Sector, the Ministry of National Security and the Business Development Unit of the Ministry of Trade.
The Tourism Development Company continues to work with Asclepius Green and the 12-member National Blue Flag Jury to ensure the beach maintains its acquired status and continues to work on the establishment of other Blue Flag beaches within Trinidad and Tobago.
Trinidad & Tobago is located in the southeastern region of the Caribbean. With its careful approach to tourism, the dual-island nation offers a distinct blend of culture, eclectic cuisine and an assortment of eco-adventure activities. Trinidad, the ‘cultural capital of the Caribbean,’ is home to the world famous Carnival and the birthplace of the steel pan, the only new musical instrument to be invented in the 20th century. It is also home to one of the world’s top three nesting sites for endangered leatherback turtles and world class fine flavored cocoa. Tobago, sister island to Trinidad, is the quintessential Caribbean paradise with secluded beaches, quaint villages, private villas and award-winning eco-attractions that include the Main Ridge Rainforest, the oldest protected reserve in the western hemisphere and the six-time award winner for World’s Leading Ecotourism Destination by the World Travel Awards.
For more information on Trinidad & Tobago, visit gotrinidadandtobago.com or visittobago.gov.tt
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