St. Maarten Private Eye

Westin St Maarten - Welcome?

The 'blot on the landscape' that is St. Maarten Westin officially opened Monday, a lavish ceremony attended by a mob of people, the Exco and Guv'ner Richards. Thankfully I had remembered to bring my Bullshit Protectors. with me. Good job too, considering how much there was flying around.

Roy and the Exco were in top form dishing it out.

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If there is one thing that I can say for certain SXM PE has helped me to do, it is to pay more attention to how our media works, in particular the two dailies. I had always considered the Today as a tabloid rag, but I maintained a grudging respect and appreciation for the Daily Herald. Something which has now greatly diminished, in fact it's close to disappearing altogether.

Before I get into the articles and what was said at the opening, I will elaborate more on the above. The biggest reason for my disgust at the Daily Herald management, Roger Snow, Mary Jane Hellmund and Paul de Windt is not so much the lame article, but the story behind it.

What I am about to tell you is not much of a secret, I have heard about it from many sources, some close to certain commissioners. I am hesitant to write about it, however it needs to be told. It is impossible for me to tell it without revealing details that will help identify a reporter, but I will refain from using a name. That has absolutely no importance in the story.

Both newspapers are largely staffed by foreign journalists and workers, Guyanese, Jamaican and many others. All of these people need permits which need renewal. If you've been a good girl or boy you get renewed, if you have been bad then it's time to pack your bags. By good I mean kissed enough ass and made the right people look good, by bad I mean written articles that made them look bad or asked too many hard questions. The permits are controlled by Laveist.

What this has created is a situation where the only option is to be 'good', for some journalists it becomes part of the job in the chase to get stories, kiss up to get the scoop. Not all are like this, some have integrity and try to do a good job, but with a lame Journalist's Union that was last heard from being congratulated by Louis Laveist for doing a good job, what choice is there? If the newspaper you work for has no backbone and integrity either, then there is none.

"I would describe their task as a most noble one when taking into consideration that some members of the press put themselves in harm's way in order to inform us, the public."

Innocent or sinister? I wonder if he was looking at anyone in particular when he said it. What is happening is that Louis and the DP are using permits as a means to control and manipulate the press. There are several cases and stories to support this conclusion, the excuse they use is we need more local journalists. This could well be true, but the fact is that there are not many and no serious effort to teach and train any.

There is this one journalist who often writes about environmental issues and is involved with a local enviro group. This is the person the Daily Herald management sent to cover the Westin opening. I watched that reporter endure Roy's pathetic ripping into the enviro groups and cause in perverse glee. I watched as he sauntered over for a private word, clearly enjoying himself, rubbing it in.

No one can tell me the DH management are not aware of all this, the games with permits, the environment and Westin. By sending this person to cover this story they reveal themselves to be either very ignorant, spineless or complicit. Their continued appeasement and pandering is a disgrace to the profession of journalism and reporting. Call yourself a newspaper? Disgraceful.

Their Editorial briefly passes over the 'controversial' issues which have been extensively questioned and pointed out here on SXM PE, instead trotting out the DP line of how wonderful and important it apparently is for St Maarten to have a "Brand Name" hotel. I think what they are saying is we needed Westin to have confidence in the island before the island could be confident about itself. Thank you Westin, I feel confident now, I just didn't understand what you were doing for us.

Now, lets have a look at what the mob had to say at the opening.

Job creation was the buzz word with Roy stating that "In spite of heavy criticism by environmental groups, property owners and other groups in the community, the five-star property has proven itself as a corporate citizen by taking care of the island’s people with the creation of needed jobs and a flagship to boost the economy." He said the criticism, most of it unfounded, had been levied on the development since the announcement of the project. “It even went as far as claims that I accepted bribes to get the project going. But this simply shows that good things don’t come easily.” Nice of you to remind the public about that, Roy.

The thing about the jobs created is that no one has actually asked to see the personnel list to confirm the figures mentioned, 80% and 275. I have had two reports of people taking a visit to Westin and discretely asking people where they are from. Those 80% are quite hard to find in the general customer contact realm. I guess Sarah would know, seeing as her daughter is apparently head of human resources and personnel.

The Today's article on the opening calls the development a 'restoration' of the property, and has Louis Laveist commending the hard-working employees for their hard work, explaining that their taxes are going towards schools, health etc. For some reason no one mentioned Westin/Sussex's tax holidays. Oh well, at least someone is contributing eh? The whole thing was a humorous farce and still no mention of the so called "win win" road deal either.

Over the past few days, reports of Westin pumping 'dirty' water from their sewerage plant into the retaining hole in the ground have come in. Algae, a strong sign of pollution and nutrients is now forming in this pool of water, which when it rains, will flush directly out into the sea. There are no reports of any checks being made on this plant and its 'dirty' water outflow.

The letter from Cor Merx on behalf of Westin to the local residents tells us all we need to know about them. Liars, hypocrites and bullshit artists.

As an ober dictum, my client wants to express that it is their policy and intention to live in good harmony with the environment (in any way). Lying sack of.....

I highly recommend that you all print out your own Bullshit Protectors, there is lots out there.

LH

PS. About the photo. It was sent it by a reader who thought it might be Roy in his casual wear. I replied that I didn't think so, but would let you all decide. :)

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