Deloitte adopts Dot

(CNS): Better known for balancing the books than conservation, locally based financial firm Deloitte is turning its attention from the bottom line to the environment and has adopted a 215lb female Green Sea Turtle as part of a conservation effort in partnership with Boatswain’s Beach. A breeder turtle, ’Dot’, as she is now known, was chosen by Managing Partner Ian Wight, who explained that the firm’s support of Dot will form part of its latest environmental project.

“Turtles are an important part of our history,” added Wight.” At Deloitte, we feel there is a need to preserve this part of our heritage for future generations. We want our children and their children to always have the opportunity for unique turtle interactions."

For many years, Boatswain’s Beach, home of the Cayman Turtle Farm, has run a captive breeding programme for local consumption and the release of some young turtles back into the wild.

“Corporate support is a vital part of the continued success of our research and conservation programmes,” said Joey Ebanks, CEO Boatswain’s Beach. By extension, our corporate partners play a role in the very survival of these wonderful species. We are proud to have Deloitte partner with us and look forward to working with them,” said Ebanks.

Deloitte Consulting Partner, Taron Jackman, said that over the past 2 years, Deloitte has worked closely with the management and staff of Boatswain’s Beach on a number of projects.

“The more we learned about their conservation programme, the more we wanted to be involved somehow. During 2008, we focused on the environment with recycling at the office, school tree plantings, beach cleanups, and other activities. This year, ‘Dot’ will be the centrepiece of our environmental activities,” Jackman said.

Deloitte Cayman Islands has a yearlong programme planned around ‘Dot’. The focus of the programme is two-fold; conservation and education.  

"Dot was selected to be a part of the breeding programme at Boatswain’s Beach and we hope she will produce many offspring. When that happens, we plan to work with the research staff to preserve and protect her eggs. You will certainly hear more from us when we have our first hatchlings!”Jackman added.

“The Corporate programme at Boatswain’s Beach includes turtle releases and this is a very exciting part of the programme for us at Deloitte. We plan to incorporate the turtle releases into annual staff events, which will certainly create a unique experience for our staff.”

Another part of the programme is a school outreach campaign where Deloitte plans to work with schools to raise awareness and to reinforce the importance of Green Sea Turtle conservation through classwork and homework activities. “We will organize class activities in selected schools around themes such as conservation, environmental protection, and the turtle breeding programme,” Jackman explained.