Dear Minister Plasterk,
There should be even more conditions to release the funds from Holland. Besides integrity and border control, there should be some oversight in the reconstruction of hotels.
I arrived in St. Maarten in 1990. Caravanserai and Mullet Bay Beach Resort had walkways along the shoreline. Since then, it's all disintegrated. Many developers have ignored shoreline assets and only consider how many rooms they can fit.
When will we as a people realize that beaches and views are our bread and butter? The Maho and Beacon Hill beaches are shrinking due to global warming, other beaches are plain dirty, likely due to septic release.
If it wasn’t for the French side which accords importance to building aesthetics and nature preservation, this island would be a mess even without Irma. St. Maarten’s back is now up against the wall. We have to think carefully: will the new hotels invest in beautiful surroundings and respect our beaches and views?
Even if our beaches were maintained and our views were honored, this would not be enough to differentiate us from other vacation destinations. We need a fresh marketing approach, and it's here, right before our eyes. It’s our people! We are our greatest asset.
St. Maarten is a party island, where music, nightlife and enjoyment are unique on earth. I know! That’s what keeps me here after nearly 30 years. Our women are beautiful, they have the biggest derrières this side of anywhere. Build clubs, market the nightlife, and legalize marijuana. Holland has done it. Colorado’s real estate values are soaring because of it. Jamaica is enjoying its benefits. Coming to terms with ourselves as who we really are will enable us to overcome and prosper.
In the immediate present, why not advertise disaster tourism? We know visitors love to brave the dangerous conditions of jet blast; they will thrive on the surreal surroundings of a hurricane-tossed island. As I see it, thinking outside the box with new and exciting ways to enjoy St. Maarten is our only road to recovery.
Catherine Brown
