The cleanup of old car wrecks in the Cul de Sac basin is scheduled to start today, Wednesday, after a similar exercise in Cole Bay last month. No doubt many will be happy, because it regards not only visual pollution, but also
an environmental and public health hazard.
The derelict vehicles often are turned into unhygienic impromptu trash bins, attract possibly harmful vermin and create potential breeding places for insects, including mosquitoes that spread dengue, chikungunya and zika. Moreover, when parked on or alongside the public road they become a nuisance for traffic and pedestrians in particular.
Let’s face it; the owners have been given sufficient notice and time to collect their property. Should there nevertheless be cases where still-wanted and usable cars have been removed the persons involved probably can get that rectified by acting quickly before their possessions are crushed.
Somebody joked that the apparent increase in theft of motor vehicles and car parts might have to do with trying to get some of the vehicles targeted in the campaign back in running order so they aren’t taken away. That may be a bit far-fetched, but the possibility can’t be excluded that one or more of the wrecks may have been stolen and left in a location without ever being detected.
However, as the project has the backing of the Community Police, it can safely be assumed that the seemingly abandoned cars are not on the list of vehicles currently sought by authorities. All the more reason for residents to give their full cooperation and help rid St. Maarten of these major eyesores especially going into the high tourism season.
