The public Christmas lights decorations along St. Maarten’s main roads and on roundabouts this season are undoubtedly a welcome surprise for many, after a far-from-easy year. Considering all the problems at utilities provider GEBE, few perhaps expected it to help make such an investment in the festive spirit possible.
The government-owned company nevertheless did so, along with a host of other businesses, organisations and persons mentioned in an advertisement in today’s edition by those directly involved. The initiative no doubt also enhances the Dutch side’s image as holiday destination.
Unfortunately, 2024 will go into the books as a year with two elections, the fatal shooting of an activist political candidate’s wife, a prolonged energy crisis and, lately, proof that current building practices especially on hillsides cannot continue because the local infrastructure is already unable to handle heavy rainfall.
That’s some of the bad news. Good news is completion of the reconstructed Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIA), seven years after Hurricanes Irma and Maria left it badly damaged.
Visitors’ arrivals have only now reached – and will soon surpass – peak 2016/17 high season numbers, while resort room inventory is also practically back to where it was then. With the mushrooming of online vacation rentals since, total guest accommodations have in fact grown.
The harbour seems to be holding its own in terms of cruise tourism despite increasing competition from the region. The cargo port faces certain challenges also due to fuel-related developments that warrant attention and possibly action going forward.
Most, although not all, schools have been repaired and the project to build a new hospital finally appears on track. With the adjacent St. Maarten Medical Center (SMMC) also experiencing recent flooding, finishing the job promptly has become an even bigger priority, while keen attention will hopefully be paid to adequate water run-off systems.
The island was again spared a major storm hit, although some weather systems did cause significant inconvenience and nuisance.
Last but not least, the electricity outages have meanwhile been minimised and another 20 megawatts of power from generators is to be added to the grid this week, so the dreaded frequent load-shedding should soon be a thing of the past.
Granted, the past 12 months have been exceptionally difficult at times, but also allowed for developments that potentially indicate a brighter future. Let’s all just toast to that.
