It turns out that right after the current mould remediation works, Princess Juliana International Airport operating company PJIAE will start building temporary offices for airline handlers and staff to be completed by May 1. That news (see Monday paper) came after St. Maarten Airline Handlers Association (SAHA) and the Airline Operating Committee (AOC) recently sent a joint letter to Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs complaining about working conditions at the island’s main gateway since it was damaged by Hurricane Irma in September 2017.
They reportedly mentioned indications of having to remain housed in containers another three years, but apparently that will not be the case. PJIAE said in a press release that over the past six months its project management department worked in collaboration with “all stakeholders” to plan and design the temporary airline offices so this does not affect the terminal’s reconstruction.
That begs the question whether SAHA and AOC or those they represent were part of that process and, if so, why the letter? The answer probably has to do with communication or – better said – lack thereof.
It seems reminiscent of the biblical story about the Tower of Babel, which was never finished because so many people speaking different languages were involved and could not get on the same page.
In Spanish they say, “Hablando se entiende” (loosely translated – “Talking, one reaches understanding”). Problems are usually best resolved at the table.
