St. Maarten Private Eye

Lagoon Life (sic)

The SXM Pride and Ocean Care foundations this last week took a tour around the lagoon and forwarded a series of photos and observations to SXM PE. Prosecutor Paul Mooij also took a tour back in September last year and sadly, it seems not much has changed.

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In Cole Bay it was noted that the water in many places is black, dark brown and even reddish in some areas, particularly along the area between Budget Marine and Island Water World. The water in the background of this first photo is almost black.

On the other side behind the FedEx building it looks like this.

The water around this old barge is surprisingly rust colored.

As Paul Mooij noted after his own tour, "The main reason we did the inspection is because we had already an alarming report about the quality of the water in the lagoon". Not only is raw sewerage going into the lagoon but also many other polutants. He pointed out that the shipyards did not look very clean and that many businesses were operating without hinderance permits.

Further investigation was promised.

It was also observed by the foundations that there seemed to be several boats that were being used as storage and many that, although unlikely to be considered seaworthy, have residents.

At Little Key, already a grave yard for two large wrecks, another boat has appeared, apparently from Dominica. Several dogs were seen on the island and items and equipment, including a generator, that implies that the two wrecks may have residents also.

Junk and garbage can be seen all over the lagoon.

And it used to look like this.

This is what the Foundations had to say:

Ocean Care and PRIDE foundation made the tour, as we believe that water testing has to be conducted and an inventory has to made of all businesses located around the Simpson bay Lagoon. There has to be a detailed report made of every business, like restaurants, apartment buildings, boatyards, marine stores, marinas, boat docks, dwellings and storage areas.

Remember that whenever any of these anchored boats flush toilets, it goes right into the lagoon.

Development is clearly out of control, government does not have the ability to keep up with it and the departments responsible are demoralised, understaffed and underfunded. More people need to speak up, government won't do anything unless they do!

Roy ol Boy, you're doing a heckofa job!

Flipper

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