Dear Editor,
A Minister of TEATT [Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transportation and Telecommunication – Ed.] in my opinion needs to focus on the product our guests enjoy when visiting our island. No one would argue that increased air traffic and cruise ship visits are to be pursued with great attention and dedication. However, as we are all well aware, we offer pretty much the same as what the other islands have to offer: Beach, restaurant, and entertainment.
Here in St. Maarten however, we have niches that not many islands have. We have casinos, and a lagoon, which houses various marinas with attractive mooring facilities and amenities. We also have an existing mega-niche in our destination. I refer here to the Maho Beach airplane viewing attraction.
St. Maarten has, and continues to receive free advertisement/exposure on numerous social media platforms as well as the international news media. People plan their vacation around taking selfies on Maho Beach, St. Maarten. Yet government does not see the importance of upgrading this location. The boardwalk would provide safety and comfort to the many visitors amongst whom the occasional wheelchair user. On a sad note, a lady died there while enjoying a day of fun with the planes. The proverbial cow has drowned. It is time to cover the pit.
All will agree that a boardwalk from the harbor to Philipsburg will provide comfort and convenience for the cruise tourists. Not to mention the possibility to visit even more of the same shops on their way into Philipsburg. How this is better than structurally organizing the services offered outside the harbor in order to avoid harassment by vendors, rental agents and other traders is beyond my comprehension.
One would think that by structurally organizing commerce outside the harbor entrance, all will operate under the rules and order will be established. One might say that the behavior of these traders is the way we do things in the islands and that it is our culture, but no one will argue with the fact that this type of behavior is intimidating to our guests.
What would keep the cruise lines from capitalizing on this and offer attractions to keep their customers on board, or even threaten that they will not include the destination in their itinerary because they found safer haven(s)? Service on their ships and Private Island is provided with big smiles.
The new boardwalk will not stop commerce outside the harbor gates. The minister of tourism must seek cooperation of the minister of justice to guarantee order at the harbor. And maybe a friendliness clause must be attached in all tourist-related business licenses to which all must adhere.
I believe that using the VKS [Volunteer Corps] will provide opportunity for our hero volunteers to exercise their calling and serve our country. But we opt for yet another boardwalk in the Great Bay area again. Let the taxi driver make a dollar if he/she can. But demand that they do so with respect and everybody is happy.
It is not that I am against the boardwalk from the harbor to Philipsburg. I just believe that the Maho boardwalk is of much more importance at this stage. Great numbers of tourists gather there every week. We must implement safety before another sad incident occurs. The boardwalk would also serve as additional protection for the road and vehicles from beach sand overflow.
A slightly widened road and lower road divider will facilitate all incoming and outgoing traffic. For example; in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma, a crane had to drive over the airport to clear a container from a house in Beacon Hill. This would not have been necessary if the road was slightly wider and or the road divider was lower.
The enhancement project for the Maho Beach would also entail parking for visitors, taxis and tour buses, with the cooperation of the airport. The boardwalk would be protected by a breakwater built from natural reef balls that permit water flow so there will be no pileup of sea sand against the breakwater.
Detailed information was shared with the Nature Foundation and they were consulted on the viability of the breakwater in the form presented. Approval was sought from and given by this organization. The Maho Boardwalk and Breakwater project also includes a water drainage system project that will solve the water stagnation problem in various locations in Beacon Hill. These roads are used by Beacon Hill residents, as well as local and foreign visitors on a daily basis. There are also two small hotels in this area.
When asked, the VROMI [Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure] department made mention of an elaborate project for the drainage of the stagnant water, for which there are no funds available.
I have been approached in the past by a local company to provide their services for the drilling of drainage wells (soak-away wells). This system will have the water go underground into existing water veins. The cost related to drilling is by far less expensive when compared to any other options. This water disposal system can be introduced around the island where required as long as water veins can be found. This option seems to be available for Beacon Hill because water constantly flows under the ground yet it does not come up and after heavy rains the water eventually sips into the ground as it has nowhere else to go. To illustrate my point further, I point to the fact that very few residents require the services of a septic truck in Beacon Hill.
For the sake of product enhancement, the minister of TEATT should pursue this project in collaboration with the minister of VROMI. These two ministers should also collaborate and request from N.V. GEBE that the company dispose of all its exposed pipes, cables and damaged lamp poles. If N.V. GEBE, our corporate big brother with the power to serve, would cooperate, we will have a cleaner, more beautiful St. Maarten. More so, it might send an important message to the general public to be a little tidy too.
The same goes for seeking cooperation with the Prime Minister under whose portfolio TelEm falls to do the same. A nice gift from TelEm makes one individual happy and we appreciate that. After all, all clients stand a chance to win but only one or a few actually win a prize. However, cleaning up St. Maarten makes a whole country happy. And we appreciate that too, but more because everybody wins.
The minister of TEATT can enhance the beauty of our island by having indigenous plants and trees planted around the island in plain view of traffic users and little by little rebuild our slave walls on Bush Road. Build it and they will come and enjoy our beauty. Sounds nice and it has potential for growth and success.
The car wrecks are also not good for our image.
Seek cooperation with the minister of culture to have our national flag fly high and proud every day so that our visitors can see that we take great pride in our country and its identity. It does not matter whose idea it was. What matters is the flag represents our national identity and shows that we all take pride in our country. Talk about St. Maarten Strong.
Remember, tourism is our single economic pillar. The minister of TEATT must strengthen it. Give the minister the budget and cooperation needed for the complete strengthening of our tourism product. Of all the niches I mentioned that we benefit from and those we can benefit from, the most important niche is a clean and beautiful St. Maarten image.
Louis R. Engel
