The latest public call by Teen Times for a performing arts centre in St. Maarten (see related article) should not go unnoticed. The organisation supported by this newspaper organised its 13th annual Talent
Showdown, where each year many youngsters and/or parents must be turned away due to security reasons and lack of space.
Coordinator Mike Granger was on the money when he pointed out that other countries in the region have invested in adequate national theatres. They did so in part because – in addition to sports – art and culture are seen as important tools for the development of their youth.
A challenge now has been issued to incoming Minister of Education, Culture and Youth Affairs Silveria Jacobs, who has had the project on her list of priorities for quite some time. In fact, politicians of various parties in the recent past proposed and even presented plans for such a facility, particularly during election campaigns.
Several locations were mentioned over the years, including the site of the current Administration Building at Clem Labega Square. Of course nothing else can happen there until a solution is found and implemented for a move to the “no-longer-so-new” office complex on Pond Island that has been sitting empty since the basic structure was delivered in 2008.
Talks on the latter issue were held with general pension fund APS, and Social and Health Insurance SZV reportedly is interested too, but up to now no breakthrough has been reported. With a financial instruction by the Kingdom Council of Ministers regarding government’s huge outstanding debts to these two agencies still very much in force, surely there must be a way to settle this matter so that the much-desired indoor performing arts centre may become a reality soon.
