St. Maarten Private Eye

Plenty of heated discussion about the pros and cons of development. There are valid points on both sides of the fence. What will hinder the economy of SXM is the belief that if the foreign investor is attacked and maligned , taxed and made to feel unwelcome that the island will be a better place for local SXM people to live.

Take away your tourism and a place in the sun for the rest of the world and it will be hard for people to make a living. Look beyond SXM at the rest of the world. It is expanding. The population globally will not slow down because of SXM.
SXM is gifted. It is a beautiful island, people do want to invest here, it is one of the destinations globally where the wealthiest people want to come. The investment in the Mega yacht buisness is a testament to that.

We cannot stop what is happening on a global scale, we must embrace it and work with it. SXM is in that global spotlight like it or not. Tighten building controls, demand a higher end product, demand off road parking sufficient to meet the buildings use. Insist the buildings are finished and landscaped before they are used.

Charge for parking and plough the money back to the roads. Enforce proper road inspections on substandard cars ( Napa and the auto buisnesses will like that)
Take what you have and make it look better. There are the jobs and the opportunities.
JY