The completed covering on Thursday.
PHILIPSBURG--The covering of the large tent structure at the EDC car park near the main entrance at Port St. Maarten was completed on Thursday morning.
Concerns were raised Wednesday by local tour operators about passengers having to wait in the sun for their tours.
Port St. Maarten Chief Executive Officer Alexander Gumbs told The Daily Herald that the initiative had been in the pipeline for some time. It began on Wednesday and was finalised on Thursday. He explained that the delay had been due to extended repair work by the local service provider.
“Some operators that shared their concerns previously to members of our team were informed that the covering was being repaired and there were extended delays by the local service provider. As an interim solution, our team placed a temporary (smaller) tent to facilitate shading,” Gumbs said.
Gumbs’ clarification follows a story published in The Daily Herald on Thursday in which several tour operators voiced frustration over the absence of proper shade for cruise passengers waiting for their tours at the EDC car park. At the time, the operators said that only the metal frame of the tent and the check-in counters remained visible, leaving guests to wait under a smaller temporary tent. They described the situation as “unacceptable,” especially as the high cruise season gets underway.
In that article, this newspaper spelled the name of an employee incorrectly and stated that he had not been at work. This newspaper had been told that he was not at work, but Gumbs clarified that the staffer had been at work. This newspaper regrets the error
With the completion of the work on Thursday morning, Port St. Maarten has addressed the immediate concern, and Gumbs signalled the Port’s commitment to providing world-class facilities and maintaining open communication. For Gumbs, the issues highlighted in the article do not align with the Port’s standards and are not something it would knowingly share with stakeholders or guests.
