St. Maarten Private Eye

The island cannot take it anymore. If the politicians cannot see it, then they are not in touch with reality" I remember these same sentiments being made in the early eighties then the early nineties when SXM was going through it's previous boom cycles. The island did take it and has continued to prosper.

But here lies the rub. With each cycle the corresponding benefits diminish. The infrastructure lags further behind. The influx of uneducated, untrained people increases and SXM more rapidly loses what made it special to begin with.
Marriots development along with the Aquarius development cannot coexist. Two shopping centers, two casino's, 600 plus residences and one road in and out through Dawn beach and Oyster Pond just can't work. Gov't see' s that and has not sigend off on the Aquarius project and issued permits yet. (at least that is my hope)

It is thought that the Mariott project is funded by a group of "local" Indians. The Aquarius project is funded by a "local" family. I wonder which one will be given the green light? In the end though, this is private property and will be devloped somehow someway. The fight should be for moderation in these developments and not total rejection of them.