St. Maarten Private Eye

1/ Probably the most important decision and policy that can be made is to have GEBE make buy/sell solar power possible, as I mentioned in my post. Making it possible for people with solar on their roof to sell their surplus to the grid would make installing such systems more financially attractive and viable. Unfortunately GEBE and our govt are blind to it and it has been suggested to me many times that it's not only because they are ignorant of this idea, but because they like their monopoly and see it as a threat. Never mind that allowing it would save GEBE from having to invest in more generators.

2/ An efficient and comprehensive public transport system. Mini cabs with meters that people can use for short journeys. Bigger and more efficient buses with scheduled routes. They could run on the used cooking oils from all our fast food restaurants.

3/ Better planning and corrections where possible. So many of our traffic jams are created by the constant in and out parking most businesses have, for example along Simpson Bay and the Pond Fill. Amazingly, although this is so easy to see, more and more buildings are being permitted with the same front parking spaces. Also, in Philipsburg in particular I think a great deal of traffic is caused by people driving around looking for parking spaces. A mulit story carpark, where the old administration building is, or on Wathey Square, would help ease this.

4/ Energy waste tax. Roy mentions that Front Street is almost an airconditioned street, with stores having doors wide open and their blowers often right over the door and blowing out in order to attract hot tired tourists in. This has to stop, it can be by laws, but another way would be to have higher electricity prices or fines for those who waste it. Office buildings do not need to be lit up with spotlights, the airport does not need to be lit up all night, nor the harbor. Govt should start setting an example with their own businesses.

5/ Wind and geothermal energy. Roy mentioned a couple years ago that a report had to be made by GEBE concerning alternative energies such as wind. The press should ask if this report has been made and if there is one it should be made available to the public. The French side have been looking at wind options for a while, they have more possibilities because they are on the windward side, places like where their dump is and the rocks and islands between here and St. Barths, like Isle Forche. Geothermal energy is also a very good possibility from Saba and Statia. Of course this would mean close cooperation and agreements with these islands, something we have seen is almost impossible for our govt.

Oil hits new high above $114, dollar supports - 15th April 2008

Here's another question. How long will the NA government keep the NAF tied to the sinking dollar?

China 'now top carbon polluter' - 14th April 2008

Forecast for big sea level rise - 15th April 2008