Dear Editor,
We read with great interest the front page article in Saturday’s The Daily Herald regarding Prime Minister Leona Romeo-Marlin’s reminder of the importance of preparation for the 2019 hurricane season. As residents and business owners in the Cupecoy area, we first enlisted her help to assist with the clean-up of what was once Ocean Club.
Although nothing was done for 10 months following Hurricane Irma, after contacting her in July of 2018 the clean-up was immediately addressed with the exception of the main building. We applauded her efforts and she assured us that the “appropriate Minister” would finalize the work with the removal of the totally damaged main building.
Since that time, even with emails to her every month since September of 2018 nothing further has been done. This building continues to be an eyesore; a danger to the surrounding area from potential flying debris; covered now with graffiti; and even a negative tourist attraction with tour buses actually stopping so visitors can take pictures of the damage – not the image we want to project for St. Maarten and its recovery
While she “urges us not to wait until a hurricane is knocking at our door,” we implore her to do the same by tearing down this building. If the owner doesn’t have the money then the government needs to step in and do the right thing for the rest of the community.
Residents and business-owners of Cupecoy
Names withheld at author’s request.