St. Maarten Private Eye

LH, thanks for your support and very on the ball words. Anyone interested in finding out about the monument inventory can go to the Museum on Front street and ask to see it. Ms. Bosch has always been very open and willing to allow interested persons to review it.
Since the breaking of this news, we have received many calls and emails from people very upset by what happened. One of the callers told us something interesting.
According to one caller, There is a gentleman working in the Lt.Governor Cabinet who was sent by the Queen of the Netherlands via Governor General Goedgedrag to work on drafting one or more of SXM important ordinances that the EXCO has been pussy footing with for years.
One such ordinance is the Monument Ordinance. This good gentleman is ready with the final Ordinance to protect the old monuments that are listed.
Now the caller suggest that it is obvious that the Councilman knew about this and he hastily decided to get rid of the house that previously housed TENDAL REAL ESTATE.
The caller also said that based on the actions of the Councilman we can expect to see more of these houses that are listed to be preserved disappear into the night.
The decision of Jay Haviser to just give an ok to the owner to demolish this house listed on the monument list was not a wise and well thought out one.
Haviser made his decision without informing other stakeholders and he based his actions on a termite infestation.
So the caller and myself can only conclude that if this is the road that the head of Monuments and Environment will lead, we will see other monuments disappear very fast. The Monument list will be tremendously downsized.
Next on the list will be the Guavaberry Emporium, former West Indian Tavern.
This building is showing old age, and according to the owner has holes in the roof. I have also heard the termite excuse thrown around for Guavaberry Emporium as well. So if Haviser gave an ok for the Councilman to demolish a house listed on the Monument list, how can he now deny the owner of Gavaberry Emporium not to do the same?
Haviser decision has left the door wide open. He has literally turned back the clock for many that have put in endless unpaid hours to document all these houses that are listed on the Monument inventory and the Monument list.
The island now stands to risk losing many of the charming old style SXM houses that showcase our islands history, culture and Caribbean architecture.