St. Maarten Private Eye

Love the Lagoon, Environmental Protection in the Caribbean

As mentioned in last week’s Lagoon Log titled: “Measures Government should take to protect the Simpson Bay Lagoon” this week’s log will focus on what a moratorium is and why a moratorium should be implemented for large developments in St. Maarten and particularly around the Simpson Bay Lagoon.

Placing a moratorium on large scale developments entails postponing or halting the issuance of permits or other approvals necessary for the subdivision-, clearing or excavation of land for- and construction of any such stipulated development. For St. Maarten a moratorium on large scale developments would involve a temporary stop to the construction of additional hotels, condo, villas, marinas and other large scale non public facilities.

A moratorium on large scale developments is considered necessary as St. Maarten’s infrastructural and environmental carrying-capacity is on the verge of being exceeded. This increased pressure on carrying-capacity is evident in the ever growing traffic jams, free flowing sewage and roaming solid waste, excavation of hillsides, the destruction of the island’s few remaining ponds and the continuous filling in of the Great Salt Pond and Simpson Bay Lagoon to make room for hotels, villas, condos, marinas, commercial, industrial and residential areas. The Island is presently at a critical crossroad. It is evident that these negative impacts of (tourism related) development have crossed the limits of acceptable change. The rapid and often poorly planned development of St. Maarten’s coastal zones including the immediate vicinity of the Simpson Bay Lagoon is a direct result of an absence of government monitoring and intervention in large scale tourism related projects, through zoning plans and other environmental legislation.

The long term sustainability and protection of St. Maarten’s natural environment and resources is highly reliant on a supportive legal and policy framework. Providing for a properly planned moratorium on development would allow government to develop and implement essential environmental guidelines and regulations not present in the island’s existing legislation. A moratorium would also provide for time to construct much needed comprehensive waste and sewage management infrastructure and facilities.

EPIC’s Love the Lagoon program is designed to help remedy some of the negative impacts of development in the Simpson Bay Lagoon. The Foundation is however still awaiting a letter of support from the Commissioner of Physical Planning & Environment Mr. Theo Heyliger regarding the establishment of the Blue Flag Program.

Make sure you read the next Lagoon Log for more answers to your questions and for more information on the Simpson Bay Lagoon.

Rueben J. Thompson
Project Manager Love the Lagoon,
Environmental Protection in the Caribbean

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