Expert suggest taxing polluting companies to clean Havana Bay

HAVANA, Cuba, Jun 21 (acn) Mercedes Gzegozewski, Director of Environmental Management of the Havana Bay State Working Group, stressed how valuable it would be use taxes levied on polluting companies in that area to clean the bay´s waters.

In dialogue with ACN, the expert mentioned among these solutions the setting up of appropriate technologies and water treatment plants, the latter of great importance for the purpose of sanitation and subsequent use of the area to promote nautical and tourist activities.
Gzegozewski stressed that this issue will be vital in categorizing this enclave as a tourist asset, as it does not currently have adequate water quality for leisure events and expansion of nautical offers.
Water activities - which have already been requested by clients -, including rent of boats, kayaks, and other entertainments, could be implemented by increasing sanitation, she said.
Meanwhile, Ivis Soto, development specialist in the Ministry of Tourism, stated that they work together with the aforementioned organization and with other institutions to convert the bay, in the short, medium and long term, into a key economic entity in Havana.
Soto added that the port could expand cruise activity and this will encourage local initiative, which will result in benefits for the surrounding population.
Both experts participated in the recently concluded International Conference on Environmental and Urban Dialogue between Port Cities, which brought together experts from various nations in Havana.
Cleaning up Havana bay, boosting its use, and investing in its development was the center of the debates of the event.