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Westin Le Paradis Beach & Golf Resort Will Rely on Renewable Fuel Sources

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PRASLIN BAY, ST. LUCIA—The Westin Le Paradis Beach & Golf Resort, St. Lucia is aiming to be the Caribbean’s first fossil fuel independent resort when it opens in June 2009. The 554-acre resort is being developed with special consideration to social and environmental impacts, with the goal of improving the community in St. Lucia. Situated along the island’s east coast, The Westin Le Paradis Beach & Golf Resort, St. Lucia will feature 192 rooms, as well as an 18-hole Greg Norman Signature Golf Course and the Westin brand’s full range of services and amenities.

“Protecting and preserving the local environment is our biggest goal for the project,” said Kierron Dolby, managing director of DCG Properties, LLC, developer of The Westin Le Paradis Beach & Golf Resort, St. Lucia. “We are committed to improving the quality of life for residents of St. Lucia and that’s one of the reasons we are striving to rely solely on renewable fuel sources.”

The Westin Le Paradis Beach & Golf Resort hired native St. Lucian Peter Ernest, an on-site environmental scientist with international training and experience in biodiversity conservation and natural resource management, to help direct the resort’s environmental strategy throughout the development. He is currently mapping and building nature trails throughout the 554 acres for guests to explore, while saving the mangroves and beaches from disruption.

“Sustainable development can only be achieved if social and environmental impacts are in balance with economic goals,” Earnest said. “A number of studies have been conducted on the site before and during the construction and all measures have been taken to minimize impacts in the area.”

More than 800 St. Lucian engineers, electricians, entertainers and environmentalists will be employed when the first phase is completed in 2009. The project is making a number of contributions to the infrastructure, social welfare and environment that promise long-term benefits. The efforts being undertaken include, but are not limited to the following:

Social Welfare Benefits

• Creation of deep, underground potable drinking water wells with the capacity to service the island’s eastern seaboard region and provide fresh water for thousands of St. Lucians;

• Support for the newly developed East Coast Farmers Cooperative and its hands-on training program to assist in training members in adopting newer and more efficient techniques of delivering and maintaining quality food supplies;

• Support for scholarship programs and youth development through sport and academic sponsorships for qualified individuals with financial need; and

• Development of the first wellness and medical clinic in the Caribbean.

Environmental Benefits

• Investigations underway of geothermal systems to provide electricity to the resort, and geothermal systems that harvest energy from the Earth and reduce reliance on fossil fuels;

• Development of a nursery for the growth of local flora and fauna to meet the needs of all landscaping for the resort;

• Solar hot water generation;

• Deep bore wells for potable drinking water;

• A computerized irrigation system to help conserve water;

• Treated waste water and collected storm water used for resort irrigation; and

• High density polyethylene (HDPE) pipes used in lieu of standard polyvinyl chloride PVC on Greg Norman’s golf course. (The manufacturing, use and disposal of PVC produces numerous environmental toxins.)

Expecting to be the world’s first fossil fuel independent resort, The Westin Le Paradis Beach & Golf Resort, St. Lucia, has earned praise from local government and community officials for its earnest efforts to improve the community, while building the development into an upscale tourist and residential destination.

Go to The Westin Le Paradis Beach & Golf Resort, St. Lucia.

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