The long-awaited cruise season is about to begin, as an increasing number of ships start calling on St. Maarten in the weeks and months to come. For a part of the local hospitality industry that caters to these day-trippers, this is when they can make most of their money which must also help them get through the quiet summer period.
A million passengers are expected on vessels in port during the next six months alone, creating an opportunity for continued recovery from the COVID-19 socioeconomic crisis especially among Philipsburg merchants. However, Saturday’s armed robbery of a Front Street jewellery store (see related story) gives reason for concern.
The three culprits arrived on scooters and threatened staff with apparent firearms to grab their loot. Afterwards they fled in the direction of Sucker Garden.
There are plenty of surveillance cameras in that location, but the suspects wore helmets and may therefore be difficult to recognise. Thankfully there were not many persons around, but this could also happen when the downtown shopping area is full of people, including guests, with all possible consequences.
The “modus operandi” in this case was a very familiar one, raising the question what more can be done to prevent such violent incidents that present a clear and present danger to public safety. In the recent past motorbikes were even temporarily banned between Great Bay Beach and Back Street, including all connecting alleys.
Some considered the latter rather drastic or even discriminating against bikers. For example, they deliver a lot of meals to employees especially around lunchtime.
Nevertheless, one needs to look at the bigger picture and carefully weigh the interests. If experience shows that a vast majority of these highly undesirable holdups are indeed committed that way, such an emergency measure seems justified.
Ultimately tourism is “everybody’s business”, so society has the right to protect and defend its main livelihood as best possible.
