St. Maarten Private Eye

The attack comes with the charge that environmentalists, and people concerned about what they see as OVER DEVELOPMENT of the island, are cast as being against all developerment and hypocrites for not living in tree huts.

I'll keep it real simple for you. The development of the island is by far outpacing the labor capabilities of the island, hence the huge amount of immigrants here. Do you know that the Westin has Filipino workers now, our education and social failures clearly leave the youth of the island uninterested and uncapable of filling those jobs, right?

Just how much development can a small island that depends on tourism take before it becomes unattractive as a destination. Build build build is not progress, it is a false economy, this island is a begger island. Every classroom built is built with USONA aid money, our schools don't even have books on hospitality.

Booming economy? Where? It's a false economy and when the island starts losing the visitors it's had for years because it's too crowded, too polluted and crime ridden then who 's going to stay in those condos?

Who is praising the French side? Because there may be a tax or law that someone here agrees with, it does not mean that that person proposes the whole French system be adopted. Don't talk nonsense.

The 'booming' real estate market is not bringing any long term benefit to the people of the island, it offers a limited future to its youths and combined it is depriving not only the govt of a great deal of money, but also the opportunity for people to own land in their own country and home.

Tax foriegn owners? Damn right they should be taxed.

LH