Brief History of PIA 2004 - 2008

The “People in Action, Inc.” is a Grenadian NGO which has been honored to be associated with “National Geographic Society, Center for Sustainable Destinations” in developing a Geotourism strategy for Grenada. Geotourism is tourism that sustains or enhances the geographical character of a place – its environment, culture, aesthetics, heritage and the well being of its residents. The National Geographic Society through the Center for Sustainable Destinations (CSD) has the opportunity to use its global stature, recognition and trustworthiness to change the world by changing tourism in a comprehensive, holistic way. The history of this development is as follows:·         October 2004 PIA first attracted the attention of National Geographic Society Center for Sustainable Destinations (NGSCSD) on the submission of a the Grand Marquis proposal solicited by Kenneth Fullerton for the development of the community of Marquis & Soubise in the wake of Hurricane Ivan. From this document NGS realized the potential for Grenada as a Geotourism product

• PIA then also introduced the concept to the Ministry of Tourism and has been working closely with the technocrats of that Ministry analyzing the possible development.

• June 2005, the ARD has also known of the possible development and a pilot test of the project was executed on Petit Martinique.

• The Geotourism Strategy was also introduced to the Minister of Education & Labor; Minister of National Security; Minister of Community Development, Cooperatives and Sports; Ministry of Carriacou & Petit Martinique Affairs and the Office of the Prime Minister.

• In September 2006, People in Action and National Geographic Society Center for Sustainable Destinations began to construct the way forward and formulate a proposal for funding assistance for Grenada's Geotourism development with the assistance of, SOLIMAR International also partners of NGSCSD.

• December 2006, PIA’s short paper on volunteer tourism as a support strategy to development won us a possibility of partnership with Science, Academia, Volunteerism & Education (SAVE) Travel Alliance

• However, on February 27th, 2007, the international press carried articles on the possible development of Mt. Hartman area that implied that… "the Government of Grenada was prepared to sacrifice the Grenada Dove at the alter of Development".

• Our associates became concerned at this since they have been entertaining the thought of using its global stature, recognition and trustworthiness to co-branding and supporting Grenada's development.

• March 2nd, 2007, PIA sent the article published on the March 1st, 2007 from the Prime Minister's website in regards to the Mount Hartman development to National Geographic Society Center for Sustainable Destinations. The article sited a Grenada’s debt to rebuild after Ivan as the rational to the sale of lands 

• National Geographic Society Center for Sustainable Destinations, on the encouragement of People in Action, have decided to make an unscheduled detour from previous planned trip to the region, to meet face to face with our leadership to get the facts 

• National Geographic Society Center for Sustainable Destinations, Director and Geotourism Editor of the National Geographic Traveler, Jonathan Tourtellot, will be in Grenada on the 31st March, 2007 at the Bel Air Plantation Resort, St. David’s Bay, to deliver to our leaders and their technocrats a presentation on the possibilities of Geotourism development for Grenada, to explore possible collaboration and collect a sense of the interest and commitment of the leadership to its natural resources. 

• Due to the short notice of the visit the then Prime Minister and invited the Ministers were unable to be present. Minister of Tourism, Civil Aviation, Heritage & National Parks, Culture and the Performing Arts, Sen. the Hon. Brenda Hood, provided us with a mobile phone contact so that she could greet and touch base with Mr. Tourtellot and Minister of Health and Environment, Sen. the Hon. Ann David Antoine, made a special arrangements to meet him on his arrival between her engagements but all these plans were cancelled due to the flight cancellations. 

• April 3rd-5th 2007, Chris Seek, President of SOLIMAR International, Geotourism Ambassador and collaborative partner of National Geographic Society Center for Sustainable Destinations visited Grenada. His visit was at the auspices’ of the US State Department. He was fortunate to deliver the Geotourism presentation to Sen. the Hon. Ann David Antoine and Sen. the Hon. Brenda Hood, amongst others, which included businessmen, technocrats, government officials and educational institutions as a Earth Day activity 

  • April 4th 2007, Jonathan Tourtellot then conveyed to PIA that NGSCSD and its alliances are willing to assist in the following ways: 

1.       provide links to well-funded international developers

2.       assist with an approach for a profitable hotel-condo development that protects the dove

3.       develop a Geotourism strategy for Grenada to compete with other islands

4.       global publicity for same 

• The developer of Mt Hartman, Cinnamon 88/Four Seasons established contact with people in action\national geographic center of the sustainable destinations with an interest in creating a win-win situation for both the Grenada Dove and their development  

•   In June 2007 we also acquired  a contract from The Nature Conservancy  to disseminate an environmental educational CD developed by Ocean Spirits

• Jonathan Tourtellot had established communication with the developers. He was contacted by various interested agencies that had seen his offer of intervention and incentives. He worked with David Wege, of BirdLife International to present possible sources of advice

• National Geographic Society’s Center for Sustainable Destinations Director Jonathan Tourtellot had established communication with the developers, interested agencies, and Jennifer Ellard at the Prime Minister’s Office, which led to a private meeting with the Prime Minister in Washington to introduce the Geotourism Charter to the highest office in Grenada.

• Subsequent to this, Tourtellot was invited by the Prime Minister’s Office to join a mission to examine the then proposed development on the Mt. Hartman Estate. This intense four day mission planned and coordinated by the Prime Minister’s Office also included; the World Bank, the Global Environment Facility, Cinnamon88, Grenada’s Forestry Department and People in Action.

•  At the conclusion of the discussions, the Mission team decided to have Bonnie Rusk, the leading Grenada Dove scientist who had first established Grenada Dove program in 1991, to conduct a population census to appropriately inform the planning and decision making process. At the conclusion of this Mission also, a small high performance team that included Government, Cinnamon88, and scientists set out to define a win-win for the environment and development. 

•  PIA & NGS were not a part of proceeding developments by request of members of the collaboration and unable to comment on the progress; this was due to the legalities and complexity of the issues being addressed. We respected their wishes and sovereignty of the collaborators and anxiously looked forward to the outcomes of their efforts. 

• Cinnamon 88 has revealed to us some of their plans, which go beyond the preservation of the Grenada Dove. They are aspiring to have an eco-certified golf course, which will minimize the negative environmental impacts typically associated with golf courses. They will also continue to work to address other sensitive issues such as the mangrove and the wetlands, the marine park, the grey water and water harvesting processes to avoid the use of treated water.

• Shortly after the launch of the Mt Hartman development on April 18 2008, PIA was contacted by the Minister of Tourism and the Prime Minister’s office to express their desire to sign the Geotourism Charter for Grenada. The Government sees the geotourism strategy as a catalyst to revising and restructuring a framework for sustainability. 

•  Jennifer Ellard of the Prime minister’s office was given charge of filling out application to NGS for Grenada’s signing of the Geotourism Charter. PIA is also aware of an application for funding support from CARICOM for the community development of the geotourism strategy. 

• PIA has since been approached by other developers and local businesses eager to show their sustainable efforts; and we are very pleased to report that there is significant interest from international sources in supporting Grenada’s desire to ‘go sustainable’. 

•  We have advocated for the adoption and stewardship of the communities by the developers and local business community as a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Strategy. The developers responded with overwhelming interest, and we reported this to the National Geographic Center for Sustainable Destinations, who have issued a Geotourism Code for companies and organizations that wish to develop in a place-based, sustainable manner.