00:00Minister of Defence Wayne Sturge says he is given a mandate to rigorously enforce the laws which protect leatherback turtles
00:08that come to our shores this time of year to nest.
00:11The turtle nesting season begins today, March 1st, and runs until August 31st each year.
00:18And Minister Sturge says turtle nesting is a protected period under the law and interference with turtles, nests or hatchlings
00:27carry serious legal penalties.
00:29They include a fine of $100,000 and two years' imprisonment.
00:34In a statement on Sunday, Minister Sturge says it is not accidental that TNT has the world's highest density of
00:43nesting leatherback sea turtles.
00:45It is because they trust our environment, and that is a trust we cannot betray.
00:50Grand Rivere and Matura beaches, he adds, are internationally recognised sites which serve as the destination for turtles travelling thousands
00:59of kilometres to return to our local shores.
01:02The minister says there is a coordinated plan in place with partner agencies to ensure a presence at nesting sites
01:11and a swift response to violations.
01:14A zero-tolerance approach, he adds, will be strictly enforced regarding poaching of any kind, reckless beach driving, and disorienting
01:25activities that undermine conservation efforts.
01:28He called on citizens to act as stewards of the environment by turning off bright lights when near nesting areas,
01:36staying off nesting sites unless authorised, and reporting any violations, any legal or suspicious activities.
01:44Minister Sturge adds that this season is not a photo opportunity or spectacle, it is a matter of national pride,
01:53and they are moving early and deliberately to protect our heritage with the seriousness it deserves.
01:59He says turtle protection is also a matter of economic intelligence, since, when properly managed, nesting season drives ecotourism diversification
02:10by supporting regulated tour operations, local guest houses and hospitality, employment for local guides, and direct revenue for coastal communities.
02:22Cindy Raguba, Tika Singh, TV6 News.
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