Sustainable development involves more than developing with the environment in mind.
That was a key message delivered by Dart President Business Development Jackie Doak when she addressed the audience at the Cayman Islands Chamber of Commerce Legislative Luncheon on 8 July at Kimpton Seafire Resort + Spa.
She said Dart has made a multi-generational commitment to the economic, social and environmental sustainability of the Cayman Islands.
"It is clear that in the last 25 years, we have proven that our development intent is multi-generational, that we are committed to sustainable development, and that we do not develop for short-term profit," she said.
She noted one of the first things Dart did when planning Camana Bay was to create a nursery to propagate trees and other plants that would be used on its developments and in the community.
Doak quoted a Chinese proverb that says, "The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now."
"Plant a tree now, and you can be sure someone will sit in its shade when it is full grown," she said. "This also speaks to the investment Dart has made in our people and our future leaders."
Dart's investment in Cayman International School will play a role "in planting the seedlings of the country’s future workforce," Doak said, noting that Dart's investment activities in Cayman are mapped to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
"Consistent with this, we are launching a new Minds Inspired programme, the Sustainable Development Goals Challenge, throughout local high schools later this year, so our future leaders can share the sustainable development goals they believe the country should invest in," she said.
Dart's educational programmes and community initiatives like Minds Inspired, Dart Scholars, Dart Grants and Work-X are bearing fruit and producing meaningful contributions to Cayman's society, Doak said, mentioning two previous Dart Scholars, Julian Solomon and Kelsie McLean — both of whom now work at Dart — as examples.
"Dart’s business investments and activities are an investment in Cayman’s future, providing opportunities for shared prosperity for all of us in this room, our children, our grandchildren and future generations."
Noting again that while the best time plant a tree was 20 years ago and the second best time is now, Doak invited the attendees of the conference to take home one of the native tree seedlings provided by the Dart Nursery and to plant it for the benefit of future generations.
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This article appears in print in the August 2021 edition of Camana Bay Times, written by Alan Markoff.
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