St. Maarten Private Eye

If you can't place your comments in the right place, don't post at all. Why the hell would you put your comment abou Global waming here?

Sorry, but in order to keep discussion in some kind of order and relevence, I have removed it, otherwise you have discussions all over the place and it is impossible to go back and find things, or keep them organised.

You are welcome to post you comment again, BUT do it in the Global Warming post that is most recent on the front page. I would warn you that the Great Global Warming Swindle video shown recently on Channel 4 has been debunked and discredited on several counts, first on using outdated data, second for distorting at least one scientist's views who appeared in it.

Carib

Gary,
Did you ever find information on Ebenezer Hill on his sailing activites,
I have a photo of his grave on Statia if you do not.
Thanks,
M.a.Franey
yenarf@verizon.net

I am also looking for information on Capt. Hill who is buried on the Island
Thanks
Marshall Franey
yenarf@verizon.net

Dear Gary,

Please email the heritage foundation at heritage@caribserve.net for your answers.
The lady that works at the museum tries her best to showcase local heroes who have contributed to the islands history.

Bart van den Bos.

well living on a Iland like this is nice , And i must no, I was 2 when i came to the iland in the 50th's and had a life a child must indure, My dady was a policeman and he did so much good whern he came back to sxm and he was in town it took him a our to get true all frends ask him are you commin Back ..well you no what it was. my frends day always told me bartje he is more a ilander then me he love this iland so much , but one day he took sick and had to go to NL.
the only thing ther is the crime and the tham drugs if ther were no drugs then i will stay for ever .it's the iland thats getting Spild whit OIL. MAKE YOUR LOVE FOR THIS ILAND SENSERE CLEAN IT UP,only ! THEN YOU CAN BE PROUD.. But if you have never been ther Getup and Go God bless

Bart

Bart van den Bos

What's ther to say ? Well not much at first, We all can jump hi and low for the things that we do not want . But day will allways get what they want . But If we want somthing get divelopt then Jears go by for answere . You do not have to think about that to long my gess is NO
the man bilding this do not care about Nature{ he want's back his monny ..

I have heard about it. It is the Bell property that ended up in court with Anzonia and was then bought by some developers in the U.S. I didn't know they were actually going to fill (one of) the last remaining green areas on Sint Maarten with concrete but I am not a bit surprised. 400 houses and a hotel !!!! Like we need that ? Think about it: The only area left to mash up with concrete after this one is EWE. Once that is done, there is truly nothing left. A job well done DP.

Bartvan den Bos

Wy swim in the lagoon if the Ocean lys an the other side ..
ther is no floding as i no so far , just don't be ther in the Huricain season { September }The damege can be sevare .but
simson bay will be better .
I wish you all the Best .. and come back soon.

Bart

I was on the Island when hurrican Louis struck and Nettle bay is definetely an area which is affected by storms. The swells reach the main road and the sand fills the houses on the waterfront.

If you intend to buy there you have to insure well the house or apartment.
If you just want to vacation then avoid the period when storms can strike the Island.

Concerning the pollution in Simpson bay logoon I personally would not swim in it.

When a hurricane comes, everywhere is under threat really, I say plan for catagory 5, because it's coming one day.

Nettle Bay is not really that high above sea level, and it's quite flat so there is not much to disrupt wind flow, I wouldn't think that helps.

I went through that area right after Luis, we drove around from Simpson Bay through lowlands. It was a mess, but then, so was everywhere else.

Local Hero

Thank you very much for your interesting comments and welcome, I truly hope you become a regular user here. This is the whole idea of this site, to allow anyone and everyone to communicate and discuss, post topics about issues that they have concerns or questions about etc.

If you go take a look at the Agonist website listed in the newslinks here you will get a good idea of the concept. It's not really a regular blog as your site is. I did go take a browse of course and I hope it's ok that I added your site in my Island Links too. The idea behind this site is that any user can add content, even a commissioner. :)

This site is going to slowly become less Flipper's site and more a community site, or at least that is our hope. At present it has been mainly myself or others using my id to post stories and threads, this is in order to add content to the site and lay out how it might progress as more and more people discover it and participate.

People who have been reading from the start can see this process I'm sure. For example the Dawn Beach Thread is now in the "Uncontrolled Development? Thread" and all other articles, opinions and other info about this issue should really go there. The Dolpinarium Thread now has the links to previous posts which have now been removed from the front page.
Other stories on the front page like Safe Haven and Police will be combined in a Social and Community thread and the individual stories filed so they are easier to find.

New threads coming to the front page are "Open Discussion Thread" which will be for anything. An "Island Energy Thread" which will look at the plans (if there are any) for 15 or 20 years time when oil will be alot more expensive than it is now for sure. Also "Humor Thread" for the jokers and to lighten everyones spirits :)

The thing is, this site is hoping to be exactly what you seem to wish for. It may not look like it from the comments but there are quite a few readers, from many walks. Preffesionals, business people, foundation members, bankers, locals, reporters and lawyers. Over time, as more and more people find the site and post then others will get courage too.

The option is there for any registered user to post a story or a blog. A story should be for news and a blog should be used for personal comment or opinions. If you for example have an issue that you wish to see discussed, post it as a story and if it's interesting, as I am certain it will be, then it will be promoted to the front page. If you have ideas and an opinion then do it in a blog and it will appear in the Recent Blogs links. It can still be promoted to front page though, especially if it creates a discussion.

When it comes to anonymity I think you understand my reasons. It is actually my hope that as the site grows and more people post comments, articles and stories then Flipper will fade into the background.

I can assure you of this though.

Firstly this site is not for any person gain. We will not take advertisements and if we ever do it will be for foundations and freely. No money will ever change hands regarding this website. Except by myself for it's upkeep online.

Secondly, I am not affiliated with any party, nor is the site a tool for political power. I am not anti DP, Pro NA or anything like it, I can't even vote. All I really want is to see open governance by people that care about the issues I do. Issues like the environment, the community's health in regards to social services and crime prevention, animal welfare, education, historical preservation, promotion of culture ect. It is only by making these things important to the electorate that change will come.

I can't find the article online that the Daily Herald used but it was about Bob Geldof's Live 8 plans and protests against the G8 meeting in Edinburgh. In the Herald it has him saying this.

"Eight World leaders in one room in Scotland on the 8th of July can save millions and millions of lives, but they will only do it if enough people tell them to."

The same goes for the small stuff too.

Flipper

What is the intention and/or the reasons for seeking a new status for the island? Obviously you will hear a lot of remarks, positive and negative but I believe there is one theory that most of us are missing out. When we obtain our new status I can assure you that within no time the face of this island will change drastically. This has nothing to do with the environmental issue but with the local population of Sint Maarten.
For years now we have travel from one island to the other island and we have established roots wherever we or our children decided to establish themselves. One fact is that we are and remain habitants of the Netherlands Antilles and in time of problems we can count on the backup and support of the Netherlands Antilles. Now with the new status the dependency of the development of this island is the responsibility of the habitants which has a dutch passport. The fact is that 50% or more of the residents are naturalized dutch. This scenario is unhealthy for all reasoning and pruposes.
As the majority they can force a complete change on the political scenario and tomorrow guide this island into a different direction. This is the reality. The only changes that was necessary was to make amendments to the constitution and the Island Regulation and ensure that the islands carry more responsibility to manage their own affairs. Our constitution was established with the purpose that as the islands developed that they should be responsible for their own affairs. The Parliament of the Netherlands Antilles in a new constitution would be more of a supervisory role then an active one. As such we will get still what want and live happily for ever more. Anyone who have another theory please feel free to share it with all of us.
The Public Defender

Thank you flipper for creating this site and keeping it going.
I understand your reasons for wanting to remain anonymous.
SXM is still somewat a village where it concerns certain issues, especially when you touch the sensitive political ones.
I am also happy that this site is for the people that really care about sxm, it's environment, the children welfare, the real issues that touch everyone living here.
SXMPRIDE has been without a website for a while now, so I will send you articles whenever I have time to keep the ENVIRO thread going.
I will not remain unanimous where it concerns the environemnt.
As you can read in the TODAY newspaper today, there is real concern for the lagoon with PJIA filling in the lagoon to keep up with international regualtions.
We have to ask ourselves, how much progress can we deal with before we notice that we have changed the entire islands landscape and we cannot recognise sxm anymore.
I have not heard from PJIA if they will be replacing nature anywhere else, will they be planting trees to make up for the lost piece of lagoon?
Will the new PJIA have a part of the airport with trees or the design have a green theme?
I heard about SSS, sea, sun and sand, but I heard nothing about green.
Or if they will be implementing energy saving methods, using solar power, etc?
I think we should all feel guilty and responsible to what is happening to the Simpson Bay lagoon.
Once, one of the largest if not the largest inland waterbody's in the caribbean
has turned into a wasteland, once a beautiful water landmark in the caribbean has been raped by greedy entrpeneaurs all filling in the lagoon for their own benefit.
There needs to be zoning plan for the simpson bay lagoon, it is a bit late but something can still be done to further it's destruction.
There needs to be joint french/dutch laws and regulatedfines for boats anchored and using the lagoon.
Indeed, there is sewage coming from certain land areas, howver the boats all contribute as well, as some are anchored in that lagoon for years.
I hope PJIA will feel some guilt as well, and I do hope that even though they cannot redeem themselves like all the others, they can still play a role in contributing to a green theme, adding trees, putting mangroves along the new road.
And promoting the flora and fauna in the arrival hall.

Jadira Veen
SXMPRIDE foundation

A new thread about the lagoon has been started here. It has also been added in the development Front Page Thread.

I think planting mangroves all along the new roads by the airport is an excellent idea. Not only around the area being filled now, but also by the new road where the terminal is. I have also made another suggestion in the Thread. Have you ever considered pressuring government for a St. Maarten National Trust? Read the thread and let me know what you think.

(To all readers, I'm sitting in a cafe far away whilst the other half is shopping. If anyone sees anything interesting in the local papers please paste a note about it in the comments, some have started doing this already. Editors too, thank you, you're doing well, there's very little for me to edit. I hope they let me back in!!)

Flipper

In the World today most people are interested in the "green" that goes in their pockets, not the green that nature creates.

The Trust idea sounds interesting too. With strict conditions the land and water rights it holds NEVER gets developed and politicians can't interfere.

Does anyone want my flamboyant trees? I have two that are about 2ft tall in pots. I'd love to put them somewhere that in 30 years time they will still be there.

Dave

Dear Dave,

PRIDE can use your trees,
I have contacted the childrens home I CAN foundation, PRIDE will be donating trees for their yard.
So if you would like to add your trees to ours, that would be great.
Email me at bernveen@yahoo.com

Jadira Veen
SXM PRIDE foundation

The site's looking really good dude, you've been busy. I will be getting a new scanner soon so I'll try to help out more, especially with the youth/social stuff. Got many people reading?

Caribdude

I've been away for a little trip and have been checking in from time to time. I guess I need to get a scanner too. Do you think you could add a thread that is just for anything interesting and general discussion, or is this it?

DBPrincess

Dear Sir(s)

Firstly our deepest thoughts and prayers to the family and friends of Joel Gove the missing hiker on Saba.

We have visited Saba many times and have lots of family and friends on the island, the Saban people are loving, kind and curteous and will always go that "extra mile to assist all visitors to the island.

I am sure they have exhausted all their capabilities to the maximum and beyond int he search for Joel Gove.

As there appears to be no capability presently to accomodate carrying out a search and recovery of the area defined due to its dangerous condition.

Why not, suggest the Amercian forces Army/Navy conduct a training exercise using their undoubted skills and expertise in this area. If they currently hold training exercises of this nature in various parts of the world then the location should be irrelevant but would serve several purposes...possibly to recover an Amercian Citizen, and also serve the purpose of a useful training exercise which may be beneficial for all concerned. As the Dutch are also members of Nato with America they may use this purpose as a joint exercise.

The cost of any military training exercise of this nature is met by the Government of the respective parties wherever in the world the training is conducted...Hence maybe the American and Dutch Government might wish to pursue this idea.

Once again our sincere thoughts and prayers to the family and friends of Joel Gove and also to the people of Saba.

Mr Peter Dennis
United Kingdom

Thank you Mr Dennis for this idea. I have sent your letter along to Joel's ex-wife who can present it to those who might know more about this if indeed it has not been considered.
I thank you for thinking outside the box.
I also thank you for your thoughts and prayers. They are most appreciated.
A Melancholy Moongirl.