COLE BAY--A slab of concrete designated as public parking on Welfare Road and the resulting disrupted water flow in the area has led to the wipe-out of the Taste of St. Maarten food festival held annually by Topper’s Restaurant.
The food festival is a favourite of residents and visitors who enjoy sampling the island’s culinary delights spanning from hearty home-cooked dishes to some prepared by highly rated chefs.
The lot next to the restaurant where the festival is held every July has become a collection point for rainwater runoff from the surrounding area since the plot of government-owned land was paved over with cement for a parking lot. The lot, while in use, is still to be completed.
Flooding in the area had been mitigated by a trench; that conduit for water was destroyed in the building of the parking lot.
Topper’s owners have not been allowed by Government to rebuild the trench to aid the faster run off of water. This has led to the postponement of the food festival. Organisers are seeking an alternative venue and hope to hold the festival in the upcoming high season.
