Three ships are scheduled in port today, Wednesday, which after yesterday’s four signals the start-in-earnest of a new cruise season. The weather hasn’t exactly been cooperative so far, although the sun did break through for a spell on Tuesday afternoon.
Many people nevertheless disembarked, perhaps also because staying by the onboard pool wasn’t exactly an attractive option either. Hundreds headed for Philipsburg, giving the downtown shopping area some much-needed business.
However, the footpath was partly flooded to the extent that they could be seen walking onto the street and continuing their way in between the rows of cars going in opposite directions. Needless to say; this is a highly undesirable and potentially dangerous situation.
What’s more, it happens even with moderate showers and has been going on for far too long. Granted, in this case traffic had been moving at a snail’s pace due to the rain and road conditions so the risk was limited, but mishaps can always occur.
Over the next six months a million passengers are expected to come off the vessels in Great Bay, generating a lot of income for the entire island. Something needs to be done to at least alleviate this problem sooner rather than later and hopefully prevent unwanted consequences.
Long-term, having hundreds and at times thousands of pedestrians use Juancho Yrausquin Boulevard while massive containers are being transported up and down to the cargo section of the harbour at Pointe Blanche is untenable and a bad accident waiting to happen. Apart from possible personal tragedy, one could only imagine the negative publicity and its possible fallout.
Existing plans for a seaside walkway from the terminal to Boardwalk Boulevard should be realised once and for all.
Of course, this requires cooperation of everyone involved, including competing marinas, but would ultimately make the destination considerably safer.
