Images showing hundreds of incoming passengers waiting outside on the tarmac of Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIA) on Saturday are enough cause to sound the alarm. When the same thing happened recently it was blamed on strict Customs controls due to indications of smuggling in firearms by evading checks in countries of origin.
No specific incidental reason was given so far this time, which makes it even more worrying. After all, if that is to become the norm particularly on the busiest aviation and timeshare week exchange day, the island has a serious issue.
Granted, the terminal is still in makeshift mode from damage suffered during the hurricanes of September 2017, but it’s been five years since. While one might think cancelling the coronavirus-related Electronic Health Authority System (EHAS) with mandatory COVID-19 insurance and testing requirements as urged by the local hospitality industry would have smoothened the processing of travellers, apparently that has not been the case.
Whatever the problem, it needs to be fixed or at least mitigated post-haste. Picture arriving at a vacation spot especially at current airline ticket prices only to be met with a long line in the hot sun trying to get in.
With four cruise ships in port again today, concerns expressed by independent Member of Parliament (MP) Grisha Heyliger-Marten about the state of Front Street (see Thursday paper) should not go unheard either. In addition to the aesthetic aspect, the broken-up road surface, loose bricks, protruding cables, etc. are a major safety risk especially with thousands of visitors walking around in Philipsburg.
Her question why excavation works on the main shopping street reportedly by Flow and Windward Roads were planned with the cruise season already underway certainly seems justified. Apart from that, however, there are many other undesirable situations in the downtown area that beg to be addressed sooner rather than later.
In short, in the interest of the tourism economy that ultimately provides for the livelihood of practically the entire population, both these matters are deserving of immediate attention.
