Dear Government of Sint Maarten,
This practice whereby concerned citizens, persons affected, neighbors, etc. are required to physically go to the Government building to review permit applications which may have consequences for them needs to stop! We live in the digital age, make relevant components of permit applications available online for all to view.
Making people suffer through trying to actually make an appointment in the first place (phones are hardly ever answered, emails are seldom answered or answered late) followed by an in-person visit to review the applications with one or more civil servants staring them down in the process is not the way public consultation/review processes should take place.
Pride Foundation Board members have in the past often been faced with developers miraculously calling them minutes after Board members reviewed permit applications. This needs to stop! Stop putting the interests of the few over the interests and well-being of the many!
We repeat, put permit applications online for all to review!! Change whatever legislation or policy needs to be changed in order to facilitate this.
Rueben J. Thompson
President, Pride Foundation
