SMNN - Dawn Beach: --- The proprietor of Duck International Peyton Cromwell finally began demolishing the third floor of one his buildings yesterday. Workmen were seen on top of the blue roof top brazing the sun as they remove the zinc roof.

St. Maarten lives on

“St. Maarten will live on”: a CD launch that according to the composer, Jeffrey Richardson, will be an evening “centered on educating the audience about the history of St. Maarten and encouraging persons to become more patriotic about their country St. Maarten.” Sounds like an admirable, positive and edifying event? Perhaps, … until you find out that it is to take place in the Westin Resort! If ever there were an example in recent years of how the people of St. Maarten let their island be ruined by greedy investors and politicians and spoilt for ever by short-term gain, it is this monstrous complex.

Well, I can't force people to post blogs can I? lol.

So, a return of the SXM PE weekly Open Thread is in order I think, a place where events of the day, issues you want to bring up or general banter can take place.

I would like to remind users that you can also comment on news stories in the News Section and post Announcements of events, no charge :) The Classified Ads section is now working, there are a couple bugs and you end up having to post the ad twice (you'll see), but if you have something to sell, or looking for something feel free to give it a try and make an ad. Also free :)

LH

Another update on the Salt Pond Ring Road story this past week was that those who have registered objections discovered that business at VROM, ROB and Planning is going on as usual.

The dates for making and registering objections to the Ring Road was 5th June, they same day both Pride and Epic handed their in, yet on that day an ad appeared in the papers that invited bidders for a tender based on plans dated June 4th.

5 days later another ad appeared, this time for plans dated 8th June 2009 and just last week yet another ad indicating that things are moving full speed ahead.

Uh huh, business as usual.....

Not much time to blog really this last week or so, but a couple stories came up that I think might make an interesting discussion, one of them being the story about TelEm being in financial troubles. In this World of internet, skype, messengers and cell phones it must have been clear to anyone in planning that land lines would become 2nd or 3rd for people to communicate. So why the huge new offices?

TelEm has a huge fleet of vehicles, a brand new expensive office building and a big obsolete, and apparently now unused, dish out back. Doesn't sound like good planning to me in an industry that should, with technology, become less labor intensive. There is also at least one law suit still pending that came to light during the Sky is The Limit/Maria episode. Drenth has his work cut out for him, in this age of competition TelEm needs to adjust or get left behind.

(Note: That link above to the DH story about the lawsuit is from 30th June 2008, I will make a guess that the DH is finally upgrading and remaking their website?)

Urgent, drastic action needed to sustain TelEm, says Drenth

Restructuring, partnership, key to TelEm's survival

I find the story this morning about Sarah wanting copies of objections that have been made about Theo's planned GSP Ring Road. And it gives me an opening for a quick blog on the story to keep it topical :)

A Ring Road is not a long term solution to the traffic and transport problems of the island nor does it provide any long term jobs, only short term and mostly unskilled. Parking garages and public transport systems are a better use for the money and both create long term jobs. There's also the question of environmental impacts and loss of heritage, which I'll leave to the Enviro Groups to argue for as they do it better than I.

Pride and EPIC Objection to Great Salt Pond Ring Road. (for Sarah.)

St. Maarten Pride Foundation and Environmental Protection In the Caribbean’s position statement on the Great Salt Pond Ring-road.

The two recent articles on SMNN about the SOAB investigation into the ROB/VROM departments are no surprise really to long time readers here, VROM and permits have often been a discussion as I and others have blogged about more than a few major developments. Developments like Dawn Beach, Indigo, Cupecoy, Aquarius, Rainbow and others, where permits have been questionable and environmental protection minimal or non existent. Flip blogged almost 2 years ago about how employees there were also hiring themselves out to the same developers they were approving permits for.

I have to hand it to SMMN, great job with the two stories, I'm glad someone is leaking something and I hope they leak more. Papers stacked in the toilet and damaged, papers mysteriously disappearing, people giving themselves and their family members domain land? The news stories mention that the report will be sent to the prosecutors office too, Mr. Piar, please start putting some money aside for the workload ahead.

EXCO SHOULD INVESTIGATE DOMAIN AFFAIRS—SOAB ADVISED.

CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS ON VROM HEAD STRENGTHENING—DEPARTMENT HEADS MUST GO—SOAB ADVISED.

MY FAMILY AND I RENTED A VILLA AT DAWN BEACH IN ST. MAARTEN IN FEBRUARY OF THIS YEAR. WE HAD A VERY SCARY EXPERIENCE ON THE LAST DAY OF OUR VISIT. OUR VILLA WAS BROKEN INTO. THE INTRUDERS WENT INTO MY ONE DAUGHTERS ROOM, WHILE SHE AND HER FIANCEE' WERE SLEEPING AND TOOK HER PURSE AND ALL OF HER EXPENSIVE CAMERA EQUIPMENT. MY OTHER DAUGHTER AND HER FIANCEE' WERE AWAKENED MY AN INTRUDER WHO HAD JUST CUT THE WINDOW SCREEN AND TOOK HER PURSE. FORTUNATELY NO ONE WAS HURT. THE POLICE WERE SUMMONED, POLICE REPORTS WERE MADE OUT THE NEXT DAY AND THE OWNER OF THE VILLA WAS CONTACTED.

WE RETURNED BACK TO OUR HOME IN NEW JERSEY, USA. IN TALKING TO FRIENDS WE BECAME AWARE OF A WEBSITE CALLED "TRIP ADVISER". THIS WEBSITE HAD NUMEROUS ENTRIES OF SIMULAR EXPERIENCES THAT WE ENCOUNTERED INCLUDING SOME THAT WERE ACCOSTED. WE HAVE CONTACTED THE VILLA OWNER BUT HE CLAIMS NO RESPONSIBILITY. THERE IS A LOT MORE BACKGROUND ON THIS SITUATION THAT CAN BE DISCUSSED IN THE FUTURE.

MY QUESTION IS: WHAT RECOURSE WOULD YOU RECOMMEND THAT WE TAKE TO PREVENT FUTURE RENTERS FROM HAVING THE SAME EXPERIENCE THAT WE AND SEVERAL OTHER RENTERS HAVE HAD THAT PREVIOUSLY RENTED THIS VILLA.

SXM Island Times -

PHILIPSBURG - The battle between the owners of the controversial Travel Inn project at the entrance of Pelican and their backyard neighbour Cornerstone Fund is not yet over. Although the case was settled in civil court earlier this year in favour of Travel Inn, at the request of lawyer Stefan Fox of Cornerstone a hearing was held on Friday before an advisory committee of the Executive Council. Fox asked once more for the Executive Council to retreat or at least revise the building permits issued to Travel Inn. Lawyer Jelmer Snow and his client Isam Yousuf of Travel Inn were also at the Government Administration Building on Friday to shed light on Travel Inn's side of the story. Also present was a spatial development and management ROB/VROM representative. [More....]

SMNN - Philipsburg: --- Several red flags were raised when the inspectors from SOAB began their investigation at the department of ROB/VROM. In the preliminary report which was submitted to the island Lt. Governor it stated that the executive council should conduct an indebt investigation into domain affairs. The investigation conducted by SOAB showed that there are irregularities at the department even though an indebt investigation was not conducted in that specific department.

One of those flags was the fact that several civil servants working both at the department and in offices of commissioners managed to secure domain land even though their request was recent. The report stated that a detailed control was not done at that department yet the discrepancies were written on the wall. Several persons who just recently requested domain land including workers of the department already got the land even though there are persons on the waiting list long before them.

SXM Island Times - PHILIPSBURG - The Civil Servants' Court will rule July 10 on a settlement between the Island Government and former head of the Department of Spatial Planning and Management VROM Delano Richardson. Developer Luis Gioia was heard in court Friday as a witness concerning the allegation that Richardson had asked him for a bribe in exchange for a building permit extension for the Blue Mall and Blue Residence project in Cupecoy.

Parties had until Tuesday, June 16, to reach an amicable solution to their ongoing dispute concerning the former VROM head's functioning, but failed to do so. The Executive Council rejected a proposal for a settlement that had been formulated during the last court hearing, held June 1. The Executive Council wanted the Court of First Instance to rule in the matter.

SXM Island Times -

PHILIPSBURG - Constitutional Affairs Commissioner William Marlin said he will “do all that it takes” to get St. Maarten ready for its new constitutional status by January 2010. “I want to prove that if there is a will there will be a way,” Marlin told The Daily Herald on Friday. He will be rolling out the new Executive Council's plans to steer St. Maarten into new status during a meeting with Dutch State Secretary for Interior and Kingdom Relations Ank Bijeveld-Schouten next Monday in Curaçao. [More....]

SXM Island Times -

PHILIPSBURG - The Central Government has committed to start setting up, as much as possible, branches of its ministries, agencies and departments in St. Maarten, as the Island Territory forges ahead with plans to attain country status. This was one of the major decisions hammered out during Thursday's preparatory meeting attended by representatives of the Central Government, Curaçao and St. Maarten in preparation for next week's Political Steering Group meeting, which will also be attended by the Netherlands. The establishment of the Central Government-based branches here is expected to help St. Maarten set up the infrastructure, assume certain critical functions and gain experience in executing certain tasks essential to the effective functioning of Country St. Maarten.[More....]

So many things to write about, yet it's so difficult to get my head around them, every time I want to write something about the police force and security something new comes up in the news. I came to to conclusion some time ago that Minister Dick is just that, a dick for several years now he has been promising all sort of things and yet here we are today with things pretty much the same as they always were.

Police staff still unhappy and him claiming to be unaware, again, some officers wanting to leave and return to Curacao, the Chamber of Commerce trying to move its own plans for camera surveillance forwards because Dick is obviously doing nothing, and now bidding for new cells in Simpson Bay while the ones in Philipsburg remain unfinished. From the news articles it seems this time they plan to be a bit more careful who they award it to.

Below is a collection of news on all these stories, feel free to discuss :)

While citizens know their way around on WWW, the St Maarten government plainly sucks at it.

SXM Island Times -

PHILIPSBURG - Democratic Party Senator, Erno Labega is currently in Curacao for Parliamentary duties. He stated on Tuesday that a meeting with the committee on transport and transportation met. This meeting was to select someone to attend the upcoming meeting of the Caribbean Association of National Telecommunication Organisations (CANTO) which will be held in Trinidad and Tobago. [More....]

The problem with people who think they are infallible is that you can never get them to admit they might be wrong, or to reassess or reconsider their position on something, that’s why trying to engage them in debate here online is such a never ending saga of mind bending banality. Doing so seems to create even bigger problems, because quite often these sort of people are unable to respond to any valid and legitimate challenge or criticism and end up trying to discredit opponents using emotional, unfounded slurs and threats.

Leopold James has another letter up claiming full responsibility for his previous letter ’warning’ bloggers, like me, to be careful what we write, because our identities are being tracked and monitored 24hrs a day, he warns of ‘serious consequences’. Funny thing is, his new letter singles me out for special attention and I feel obliged to respond, I have a sneaking suspicion he won't like the 'quality' or 'tone' of it, but I promise to try to be gentle :)

SXM Island Times - PHILIPSBURG - Most of the Down Street jetty has already taken shape. The jetty, next to Sea Palace, will help to even out the flow of cruise passengers into town, especially when the larger cruise ships such as the behemoth Oasis of the Seas starts calling here in December.
The new jetty, set for completion in August, will become the third point along the Great Bay beach where cruise passengers can disembark to explore Philipsburg to shop, lounge on the beach or connect to other tours and activities. They disembark at Bobby's Marina and Captain Hodge Wharf, at present.

*snip* - Another major impact of the jetty is that property values in the area, already one of the priciest on the island, are expected to increase.

Yes indeedy!

Early last year and a few weeks ago I wrote about Theo's plans fill in a large portion of Cay Bay, build a new cargo and cruise ship refueling harbor and to relocate a bunch of industrial businesses there. Never mind that these businesses, believed to be some like the asphalt plant and cement companies off Arch Road are in places they shouldn't be because of the failure to implement Zoning many moons ago, eh? That's the problem with not doing what should be done, having to deal with and fix the consequences.

Anyway, since my last blog on this subject I managed to get hold of proposed plans for SXM West, mainly the Cole Bay and Cay Bay areas, and they certainly are interesting as you will see below. I'm all for planning for the future and building and restructuring infrastructure, it's vital, my disagreement is with the kind of future being planned and the cost of it, and I'm not just talking monetary costs.

Caybay residents concerned about development plans - 11th June 2009 - (With Podcast.)

Anyone who knows their SXM political history will know that there exists a cloud of fear over the people when it comes to being involved in politics and government. Standing up against or criticizing government or powerful figures used to get you spat at or forced to leave the island, you suffered for it. Very little has changed, the same is true today.

We live in a society where people have been discouraged from participating in government and speaking their minds, where it is so much easier and healthier to keep your head down and focus on your own life and problems. There are so many good, intelligent and capable people out there I know who are even afraid to post an anonymous comment here. It's a very sad state of affairs.

The internet and blogs such as this one have opened up an avenue for ordinary people to speak freely, to express criticism, opinions, arguments and share ideas and knowledge without that fear. Unfortunately there are those who would seek to bring that fear here, discourage and even threaten those who's opinions they disagree with, or feel hurt by.

Leopold James - Advice to Bloggers.

SXM Island Times -

PHILIPSBURG - Independent Island Councilman Theodore Heyliger has confirmed that he will be forming a new political party and that he is “warming up” to lime green as the party colour. Heyliger, the second largest vote getter in the 2007 Island Council elections, made the announcement to television personality Oral Gibbes on his show Oral Gibbes Live on Tuesday night. Heyliger, who has severed ties with the Democratic Party (DP) and is now an independent member of the Island Council and commissioner in the National Alliance (NA)/Heyliger coalition, said the new party will be one for the people. [More....]

SMNN - Philipsburg: -----Commissioner of ROB Theo Heyliger showed up to the weekly press briefing on Wednesday to answer questions that the media had for him regarding his portfolios. Asked what he would do differently at the sector ROB where it is said there are a number of irregularities. Heyliger said the new executive council has to discuss what changes have to be made. He said the new executive council intends to do things collectively in all departments. However, he did say there are plans to make some changes.

Yeah, we dolphins do love our fish! It's how they get us to do tricks at Dolphinariums don't you know, using hunger and food as motivation. I'm so glad we don't have one here.

But it's true, Flipper is now officially Off Island, Gone Fishing and banned from writing unless I really really need to. SXM PE is now 4 years old, it's rebuilt and it is now open to the people and community of SXM to make of it what they will, I have repeatedly begged people I think have writing talents and knowledge and information to share to write, I get promises but never actual blogs. Maybe I was wrong and expected too much? I need to take a break.....

Boy my heads been busy these past few weeks, a bit cluttered might be a good way to say it, and that was without trying to pay attention to what the new and outgoing IC members were saying. Theo 'serving' and and Laveist going from strength to strength with a performance and had many people in tears, both sides of the aisle. Let's face it, those two almost buddied up last year with the NA and it seems fairly obvious they are working together, at least that's how it seems to me. Theo gets to keep his portfolios and be deputy leader and Louie gets to sit things out until his appeals process is over.

So, now we have a new government, a 'baby' government according to Marlin and we have to give them time to grow into their new jobs. I've tried to find some in the news articles, but I still don't have much knowledge on what their positions and policies are, they've had years to formulate them while sitting on the sidelines haven' they?

Well, I'm going to go ahead with my own manifesto, or at least a draft of one. Here's the first installment and over the coming weeks I'll write blogs about other topics and issues. I sincerely invite readers to contribute their own ideas and thoughts to my posts, I'm just presenting ideas, I am open to other ideas, to having flaws in my own being pointed out and I am interested in what others have to say :)

Youth, Education, Sports, Employment, Immigration, Crime.

The Daily Herald -

THE HAGUE--The Second Chamber on Tuesday rejected the motion of Member of Parliament (MP) Hero Brinkman of the Party for Freedom PVV ordering an investigation into the state of affairs of Curaçao and St. Maarten. Two other parties, the liberal democratic VVD party and the Socialist Party (SP), voted in favour of Brinkman’s motion, along with the PVV. The motion called for the Dutch Government to initiate an investigation into the quality of government of Curaçao and St. Maarten, in particular the extent of corruption. [More....]

Copyright infringement and stealing is often an accusation thrown at me and SXM PE, sometimes from people who don't like us or the site, but most often I think from people who just don't understand or know what 'blogs' and 'bloggers' are. After all, I see repeated references in the content and comments on other sites calling people who make comments 'bloggers', so naturally we have some confused people out there.

I'll go into more detail on blogs and blogging in another post soon, but for now I will say the accusation has no grounds, what we do is refer to sources and we take a small portion as a 'quote'. People who want to read the whole article can click the 'link to source' and read the whole article. Anyway, more later on that, I don't want to get sidetracked because this blog is about real copyright issues and theft. A story that I wrote about 6 weeks ago and which the artists took to the police this week.

(Agghh... The irony of it all!)

SXM Island Times -

PHILIPSBURG - The five commissioners of the National Alliance (NA)/Heyliger coalition met for their first Executive Council meeting Tuesday following the swearing-in of Xavier Blackman as the fifth commissioner. Lt. Governor Franklyn Richards chaired the meeting. Division of portfolios for the new commissioners was one of the agenda points discussed in the meeting. [More....]

Well, here we are, June 8th and a new crew is taking over the helm of SS SXM. While I myself am a skeptic about just how much things are going to change, I am willing to give the new government a little bit of leeway, a honeymoon if you like. As the saying goes, the proof is in the pudding, and we still don't have a clear picture of what the ingredients of this new government's policies and programs are going to be.

My skepticism arises from the inclusion of 'King' Theo, who not only keeps the portfolio's he previously held, but is also now the deputy leader of government. Considering that this new government now relies completely upon his (and Laveist's) support, it would seem that he has a great deal of influence over what those policies and programs will be, ergo it seems logical to suspect that his Ring Road and new Harbor plans are going to part of this government's program.

SMNN - Philipsburg: --- Minister of constitutional affairs Roland Duncan is angry with the police on St. Maarten and wants to know what their priorities are. Duncan said crime is killing St. Maarten and the only thing the police officers are concerned about is rent allowances.
The Minister said even though he is not the Minister of Justice he has been attending several meetings regarding justice and he is actually pissed off when he saw the Island Chief of Police is asking for more police officers. Duncan said he wants to know what the 120+ officers that presently make up the police force are doing to combat crime on St. Maarten.

If it wasn't for the thirst of my dogs (they suffer from a high blood pressure now), my tears would have flooded the entire place, that is my humble dwelling. The tragedy that is my faith! I cannot live with this knowledge, my dearest dream shattered and broken... and that awful pain in my chest!