Dear Editor,
Seventeen years ago I went to Suriname for the first time. One of the things that caught my attention is that there were no very big tour busses. Neither for tours or for the rest of the public transportation. Even though the majority of the roads are twice the width of our roads and as I was explained, Paramaribo, where I stayed, is about four times the size of St. Maarten there were only what we call here Coasters (24 seats). Paramaribo counted approximately 200,000 inhabitants at that time.
On my arrival back on St. Maarten I spoke to people involved in importing motor vehicles in St. Maarten as well as politicians in government, concerning the imminent traffic congestion if the import of motor vehicles which was growing steadily is not stemmed. One of the answers that I got was that there were already discussions concerning traffic congestion, but at that time those involved in the harbour did not think it was necessary to make that a priority.
Later I understood why because as time progressed and seeing the developments I assumed at that time that already plans for more oversized busses were in the making. Because for years now we have had the same people in government, my question is who is to blame for the tight squeeze that we have at the Rhine road in Maho. I have another question though. Are there not daily tight squeezes all over the island? So is it only because Maho is feeling the squeeze now that mention is made of it in the papers?
Brings back thoughts of how the politicians reacted when a restaurant was closed because of hygiene conditions. I am sure you have letters from me concerning traffic congestion. With Public transportation in the hands of the public (government) there will be less traffic congestion. Place bus stops in the essential places. Guarantee public transportation to all points of the country. Better control on the gypsies and I can go on. If we do not control the import of motor vehicles and these, for St. Maarten, oversized tour busses and also if we do not stop the increase in the amount of motor vehicles per car rental, we are going to kill the goose that lay the golden egg.
The time share saga has already put a dent in the industry, and the cruise industry seems to be concentrating on quantity and not quality. The constant increase in numbers of cruise passengers has not done anything for the private sector in proportion to their sales. There is no option for free parking around the airport.
No everything must not be free; but when in years the minimum wage has not correctly been adjusted and everything else cost money and the cost of living is constantly and steadily increasing and the elected government officials are compensated for two years after, if they are re-elected to be able to ease themselves back into where they were before being elected, where is everyone going to get the means of paying for all of these extras which the majority of us cannot avoid, as a consequence of the inadequate governing for so many years?
So do not only deal with what causes the traffic squeezes but also replace the traffic lights at the Bernhard bridge for lights of which parts can be obtained when necessary or change the traffic situation on the spot. It is obvious that the lay of the land would call for moving back and shifting, but that is nothing new for us. The causeway is proof of that.
I almost did not mention that the slower the traffic moves the more gasoline is burned.
Russell A. Simmon
