Dear Mr. Minister of Environment and Tourism Dear Permanent Secretary of the same Ministry Dear Mr Ombudsman, John Walters, please take note: During the last couple years I have visited Sossusvlei with quite a number of guests to our country.
I regularly take them for a walk to Dead Vlei and surrounding areas, and every time I go there, I am shocked. Shocked and appalled of the state of our biggest tourist attraction, Sossusvlei.The area of Sossusvlei and its surrounds have been permitted to degrade to the state of a PUBLIC TOILET.What has happened to our pristine desert? According to the Constitution of the Republic of Namibia, Article 91(c), which reads, inter alia: failure to protect the beauty and character of Namibia.Your Ministry and your staff, Mr.Minister are in charge, and you have failed completely to protect our most valuable asset.Please go and have a look for yourselves, take a walk in Sossusvlei together with one of us guides (I am a professional Namibian Tour guide and volunteer my services) and see for yourselves.You should be as disgusted as I am.Virtually behind every dune or tuft of grass you will find toilet paper, tissues and excrement and more despicable items.Let me make it clear: Even one piece of toilet paper is too much! IS THIS REALLY NECESSARY? I do not think so.In my opinion it is you and your staff who simply ignore the basic needs and requirements of our valued Namibian guests, and our local inhabitants.All of us have got basic needs, and one of the most basic needs is a reasonable, acceptable toilet facility so that you can relieve yourselves in a hygienic way, especially at a place where you have a concentration of people.Please provide something that is acceptable.What do we have at present? Wooden shacks over a pit that stinks to high heaven with a toilet pot that is so dirty and grimy that you cannot expect any self-respecting person to use it.Can we really offer these absolutely unacceptable facilities at an entrance fee of N$80 to our Namibian guests and call this civilised hospitality? No, by offering this you force the guests to go into the desert, defacing one of our most valuable assets.Please, there is NO necessity for flushing toilets.What is however required is a decent hut, with a functioning door, a decent toilet seat, some chemicals that can dispel the smell, and the daily cleaning of the facilities, and as a bonus, toilet paper.(If you do not know where something like this is to be purchased, please ask Mr Goldbeck, CEO of Gondwana Park, as they just installed some at Aus Info Centre.These toilets do not cost millions) Furthermore, it would be required to instruct every visitor/driver and guide to use the facilities PROVIDED, and make him aware that this is a pristine desert area, making him aware of: Take nothing but photos, leave nothing but footprints.Please note: This despicable situation holds true for Aruvlei and the rest of Namib Naukluft Park facilities.R G Iben WindhoekShocked and appalled of the state of our biggest tourist attraction, Sossusvlei.The area of Sossusvlei and its surrounds have been permitted to degrade to the state of a PUBLIC TOILET.What has happened to our pristine desert? According to the Constitution of the Republic of Namibia, Article 91(c), which reads, inter alia: failure to protect the beauty and character of Namibia.Your Ministry and your staff, Mr.Minister are in charge, and you have failed completely to protect our most valuable asset.Please go and have a look for yourselves, take a walk in Sossusvlei together with one of us guides (I am a professional Namibian Tour guide and volunteer my services) and see for yourselves.You should be as disgusted as I am.Virtually behind every dune or tuft of grass you will find toilet paper, tissues and excrement and more despicable items.Let me make it clear: Even one piece of toilet paper is too much! IS THIS REALLY NECESSARY? I do not think so.In my opinion it is you and your staff who simply ignore the basic needs and requirements of our valued Namibian guests, and our local inhabitants.All of us have got basic needs, and one of the most basic needs is a reasonable, acceptable toilet facility so that you can relieve yourselves in a hygienic way, especially at a place where you have a concentration of people.Please provide something that is acceptable.What do we have at present? Wooden shacks over a pit that stinks to high heaven with a toilet pot that is so dirty and grimy that you cannot expect any self-respecting person to use it.Can we really offer these absolutely unacceptable facilities at an entrance fee of N$80 to our Namibian guests and call this civilised hospitality? No, by offering this you force the guests to go into the desert, defacing one of our most valuable assets.Please, there is NO necessity for flushing toilets.What is however required is a decent hut, with a functioning door, a decent toilet seat, some chemicals that can dispel the smell, and the daily cleaning of the facilities, and as a bonus, toilet paper.(If you do not know where something like this is to be purchased, please ask Mr Goldbeck, CEO of Gondwana Park, as they just installed some at Aus Info Centre.These toilets do not cost millions) Furthermore, it would be required to instruct every visitor/driver and guide to use the facilities PROVIDED, and make him aware that this is a pristine desert area, making him aware of: Take nothing but photos, leave nothing but footprints.Please note: This despicable situation holds true for Aruvlei and the rest of Namib Naukluft Park facilities.R G Iben Windhoek
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