This letter concerns the project at the old BBW dock in Simpson Bay that has been under construction for some time now. The first stage of the project was done by a crew that lives on the site. Most of the crew, to my guess, are not even legally on the island, and they live in one building that isn’t quite livable.
I never saw any of VROMI’s [Ministry of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure – Ed.] people come to inspect the project. As any project, there is supposed to be a public notice. I haven’t seen any of the environmental groups show any concerns about the project and how it’s being carried out.
Just a few months ago, the Nature Foundation was talking about the same area being a protected area and part of a so-called marine park, but somehow the government managed to still sell the water rights to the Goya Group. Seems to me that once big money is involved and people with ties to government, they are allowed to do just about anything. I see other businesses opening up on the old Simpson Bay road that I thought was supposed to be residential.
The road leading into the old Simpson Bay is being used by the workers that live on the side on one lane to repair cars. It has become a traffic hazard, and seeing that the building on the opposite side of the road constructed a wall so high that makes it a blind spot. When the wall was constructed, they just pulled out the “one way” sign and dumped it. I have seen many close calls and a few accidents on the corner.
Government took all the land on the lagoon side without considering the Simpson Bay people having an area to put their boats. The land was sold for big money or used by politicians themselves or just fronted by others and the last little piece of land that is left on the corner of the runway can hardly hold one boat and a trailer. They can give it to a vendor not even from Simpson Bay to sell his (whatever). They could have given him an area anywhere along the road, but still gave him the only piece that is used by everyone with a boat for that matter. Now the beach is taken away from the Simpson Bay fisherman, no place to keep their boats on either side now.
I remember when I was trying to open up a little antique shop for my wife I had to go through so much to get a permit. A little plywood building 12x12, I needed to have every nail and electrical wire in perfect place and had to make sure she would hire a local. VROMI was there almost every day to inspect.
Minister Wever good luck and if you are there long enough I hope you can make a little difference.
Allen Peterson
Dear Editor,
By publishing this brief article, I hope to at least get the attention of our authorities, or whosoever may be able to resolve this situation.
There is a homeless man who formerly use to sit every morning at what used to be the Yellow Building here in Philipsburg. Because he had no place to stay, he would be sitting there in the morning, sometimes accompanied by some dogs, reading his newspaper. But since this Yellow Building was demolished, he has now taken up residence at the newly-installed bus-stop shed just across from Carl & Son’s Bakery. He just sleeps behind the bus-stop shed, sometimes flat out on his back, as if he was sleeping on a comfortable couch. He even leaves his belongings on the bus-stop bench.
I am sure the authorities who continually pass there most have seen him just sleeping there flat out on the ground.
Dear editor, this does not create a good scene. He is a human being like all of us, and for whatever reason he has become, or has been living as a homeless person for quite some time now, I believe something should be done as to help him.
Dear editor, Christmas time is once again almost here. Many of us who are fortunate to have a good job, a savings, or reasonable income, will be fortunate to go to the supermarkets where, for the holiday season, we will be able to stock up on groceries, and goodies for ourselves and families. But this unpleasant situation of this homeless man proves that not everybody can eat, drink, and live as a king.
I hope something will be done for this homeless gentleman, Because if nobody cares, then this will prove that there is a widening gap here on this island between the haves and the have-nots.
Concerned citizen
Name withheld at author's request.
Dear Editor,
I recently travelled via PJIA [Princess Juliana International Airport – Ed.] as I often do and will endeavour to share some details of this trip. Before that I would like to preface some important facts.
Since the passing of Hurricanes Irma and Maria, SXM has had many heroes in their aftermath: our folks at GEBE, TelEm and numerous entities, both public and private sectors worked tirelessly to restore conditions for our life to continue; you did a great job, a debt of gratitude is owed to you.
This work continues at a great financial and personal sacrifice to you. PJIA is the driver of our economy and suffered massive damage during Irma/Maria. These effects continue to be felt by all users of PJIA, both local and our tourists (who will travel via St. Maarten to our region). Their presence and importance to St. Maarten is paramount and contributes to the rebuilding of our economy. We need them more now than ever in the history of this country.
One more important fact, this is not intended in any way to be a slight or recrimination of those involved in the restoration of our once beautiful and efficient PJIA (the former showcase of the Caribbean). We understand the congestion at PJIA is a fact of life until she is completely restored to its former self.
One thing I observed was that the staff and all employees public and private at PJIA are working against the odds, the facility remains damaged, bandaids are being put in place in an effort to make PJIA more acceptable to the users. To point fingers or assess blame is not the answer and will not rebuild our badly needed PJIA. Every day it is like putting 20 pounds of potatoes in a 10-pound bag.
Each entity (airlines, handlers, immigration, security, taxis, porters, FBOs, everyone) has changed its processes, hired additional employees, changed locations in a concerted effort to make the airport experience better! We collectively would be remiss if we did not publicly thank these heroes who for 2+ years continue to work diligently against challenging odds to provide service to our local and foreign visitors.
This is a fact, we see it daily at PJIA, our thanks to all of you. For several years you are coping against insurmountable conditions, which is not an easy task, no one can ask any more of anyone. This work, current and future challenges will continue for the upcoming season and foreseeable future, your efforts are clearly noticed by Winair and the people who call St. Maarten home.
Michael Cleaver
President and CEO
Windward Islands Airways International (Winair) N.V.
Dear Editor,
Fact: It was not that long ago since Hurricane Luis changed the beauty of St. Martin. Subsequent hurricanes up to Hurricane Irma added to the destruction of St. Martin’s beauty.
St. Martin’s principal source of income is tourism. Each island competes for all the visitors coming to the Caribbean by putting on their best face, which brings me to the purpose of this letter. St. Martin needs to do better, as it is not showing its best face to attract tourists and increase its tourist revenues.
It has been over 2 years since Irma hit St. Martin and there have been many efforts to bring St. Martin back to its previous glory, but some of the damage from the hurricane that is so obvious and such an eyesore and a danger hasn’t been touched. I am referring to all the damaged boats pushed on land, boats that have sunk and partially sunk. As tourists leave the airport and travel towards Simpson Bay the island’s beauty is marred by the boat graveyard along the way. As a boater, it gets worse trying to safely navigate the lagoon without hitting some of the wrecks.
I am sure the government has reasons why they haven’t stepped in to address this negative situation, but I am not buying it. Whoever is responsible for cleaning up the boating mess should take action to resolve this problem and contribute to bringing back St. Martin to its former beauty.
I will be eagerly looking for some results.
Thomas Metz
Dear Editor,
Article 45.2 of the Constitution of St. Maarten has to be amended to immediately reflect the current makeup of the population of St. Maarten.
In its current state, it reads as follows: “Any increase or reduction in the number of members of the Parliament arising from changes in the number of residents in the country shall only take effect at the next periodical election of the Parliament. The words that should be omitted or taken out are, the words “only” and “periodical”. The article should read: Any increase or reduction in the number of Members of Parliament arising from changes in the number of residents in the country shall take effect at the next election.
It has been confirmed that the population of St. Maarten has exceeded the 60,000 threshold, so in actuality government is functioning with a deficit of 2 Ministers. An argument can be made, stating that it will cost the taxpayers more money. At the same time, however, it can also be said that the taxpayers are being underrepresented.
This brings to the forefront the matter of people/businesses paying their share of taxes. What needs to be seriously addressed also is “The National Ordinance on Tax collection”. It is outdated and has to be amended to deal with the compliance issues, among others, and the taxing of pensioners.
The reason for again mentioning the compliance issue has to do with the WODC report in Dutch “Wetenschapelijk Onderzoek en Documentatiecentrum” that came out sometime in 2007 in which it lamented the fact that although the economy of St. Maarten showed consistent growth over the years, this growth was not reflected in government coffers. So again this matter has to be looked at posthaste.
As to the increase in the Parliament from 15 Members of Parliament to 17, I believe, after the elections on January 9, 2020, serious attention should be paid to this. I would suggest that after the necessary amendments are made, that the Health Ministry be separated from that of the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs and that Education should be separated from Culture, Sports and Youth Affairs.
One of the reasons for increasing the numbers of the Members of Parliament from 11 members that made up the Island Council (Curaçao and Aruba maintained the numbers, 21 each) to 15 was to create, and I quote, “A good broadly-based and well-equipped system in which the checks and balances can be realized to the full” end of quote.
George Pantophlet
