St. Maarten Private Eye

Jadira:

You wrote: "Interesting what you state about the Monument list being compiled, this I know and it has never been ratified, this part I do not understand, why not? what has been taking so long?"

For the same reason as not having zoning plans.

Having the Island Council ratifying a "momumentenlijst" and "bestemmingsplannen" has negative financial implications for the Island Territory, and hence they use all sorts of tricks and procedures to stall matters. As long as matters are "in limbo" they can just lean back until someone really starts kicking them in the backsides, like is happening with the EWE situation right now.

Some people make me laugh by the way, if they are not outright ridiculous, like a certain commissioner that is now for over two years, according to his own statement, busy rehabilitating the Belvedere borderpoint, which a good while ago was constructed at considerable cost to the island (NAF.850.000,00) and has just been left to be devastated. It looked bad two years ago, and looks worse today. But hush, don't talk....... Never mind the almighty tourists pass there each and every day cruise-ships are in town.

We talk about environment and how we should safeguard and protect it, but the roads are strewn with green bottles, plastic and card-board boxes from fast food restaurants. Garbage-bins are overflowing. Lifestock is roaming the street and making the mess even bigger.

Then there is the so-called hillside policy, which states that no construction can take place over 200 meters above sea-level. That is zoning in itself, without having followed the prescribed procedure by the EROP and therefore can be considered an "illegal" zoning. Years back the dutch goverment was prepared to provide the island territory with the necessary funds to purchase all hilltops on the island, but hey, due to our "statesmen" with their never ending "myopic" vision, the offer was declined. After all it was easier to do some illegal zoning.

It all boils down to one thing, Jadira: A lot can be done for the good of the island provided the necessary funds are there. That is where the Island Territory is lacking and hence the mess.

Have a wonderful Sunday.

Sherlock