Cargo Harbor to move to Cay Bay

Government today announced that a new Cargo Harbor will be built in Cay Bay next to the GEBE power plant. Speaking at a press briefing, Commissioner Theo Heyliger announced plans for the new cargo facilty, justifying the hugely expensive decision to move all of Point Blanche's cargo traffic to this new location as plain old 'common sense'.

"For years I have worked to build up the cruise visitor traffic to our paradise in the sun and the first thing they are confronted with is boxy container ships unloading and big trucks roaring past them on the road to town. It's ugly and dangerous, not the sort of image we want to be presenting to our visitors if we want then to come back again. This is just an extension of my ongoing beautification plans for the island.

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Outlining the plans for the press, Commissioner Heyliger explained that moving the Cargo Harbor would also reduce heavy traffic on our roads. "Presently all container traffic to SXM West (over the hill) has to travel a long distance, moving the port would reduce this traffic. SXM Ports sees continued growth ahead and this move is necessary to our being able to handle it," he said.

Reporters declined to question the logic of this prediction by pointing out how all the businesses located in Point Blanche and Philipsburg would still need their containers delivered. One did however ask about the beautification plans of the Sucker Garden Road and when 'Phase II' (the other side of the road) would be completed. Theo responded by explaining that his beautification plans are comprehensive and that this unfinished project would be tackled later this year. Until then he explained, "tour guides on the buses have been given historical information to talk about while in the area to ensure the passenger's attention is drawn to the Salt Pond instead.

To conclude, I would like to say this is all an April Fools Joke, but the truth is there are credible rumors out there of these plans and as we all know, they had to start somewhere. No smoke without a fire they say. I guess time will tell. Spending hundreds of millions of dollars on moving the cargo harbor sounds more believable than spending it on sewage treatment, water and clean energy, education and youth, the police force, social services, heritage or any of those other dumb things eh?

Hady Nufyet

Development and Construction | Hady Nufyet's blog | add new comment

Submitted by Hady Nufyet on Tue, 2008-04-01 01:11.

A St. Maarten astronomer Martini More announced on Radio 92 that at 7:47 PM today a once-in-a-lifetime astronomical event is going to occur. The planet Pluto will pass behind Jupiter, temporarily causing a gravitational alignment that would counteract and lessen the Earth's own gravity. More said "that if they jumped in the air at the exact moment that this planetary alignment occurs, they will experience a strange floating sensation."

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Here's another joke:

O Sweet Saint Maarten’s Land

Where in the world say where?
You’ll find an island there
So lovely small with shops duty free
With people French and Dutch
Nevertheless they talk in English much
As thee Saint Maarten in the sea

Refr.
O sweet Saint Maarten’s land
Where corruption is at hand
With dealers on the sea
And where illegals flee
Where vote buying is tradition
And where family gets you a high position
O I love thy Paradise
Sarah’s ears (or toes) are oversize

How fine the Royal Palm trees wave
A new Festival Village was what he gave
Cruise ships’ damage we must accept
Holland will relieve us of our debts
Casinos, brothels, bars
Thy landscape still sports hillside scars

Thy beautiful hotels and resorts
Sometimes even seven cruise ships in the ports
No environmental legislation
Prevailing that is beautification
A Festival Village, a roundabout and a racing strip
911’s out of order, ‘back to the ship?’

I love Saint Maarten’s name
Claude (Zach) Wathey toasted to it’s fame
And the Destruction Party will reign
A Separate Status they wish to attain
Thy Salt Pond polluted, thy roads’ condition poor
May God the Lord show these commissioners the door

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writer you are lackng the cords and the beat.. Carnival is here and a new song you have dear

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St. Maarten seeking
associated statehood
~ Residents asked to sign petition ~

PHILIPSBURG--The recent trip of Commissioners Sarah Wescot-Williams (Constitutional Affairs) and Roy Marlin (Tourism) to New York was not just to talk to media mogul Rupert Murdoch. With negotiations with the Netherlands, the Antillean Government and Curaçao on St. Maarten becoming an autonomous country in the Dutch Kingdom becoming more and more difficult, the island’s political leaders are seriously considering the option of US associated statehood, like what Puerto Rico currently has.

Exploratory talks have already taken place with US State Department officials, who are said to be open to the idea, also because of the number of US citizens with property on the island. The United Nations in New York has been informed and the plan is to officially inform the Dutch Government during the current visit of Kingdom Relations State Secretary Ank Bijleveld-Schouten to Curaçao.

Legal residents, whether Dutch citizens or not, are being asked to indicate their support for the idea by signing a petition at the office of Commissioner Marlin today, Tuesday, and tomorrow, Wednesday, from 9:00am. This petition will be forwarded to the Kingdom Government and Queen Beatrix. Those wishing to sign have been asked to show up with valid identification cards.

Talk of St. Maarten seeking closer ties to the US has been going on for some time, partly because of the large US influence on the island. Considering the current problems experienced in constitutional talks for St. Maarten to become a country, local leaders consider the time right to seek alternatives.

The United Nations reportedly does not have a big problem with the idea, because it falls within the realm of “free association.” The Hague is not expected to object too much either, because it is occupied with the ABC islands and the Chavez factor, as well as taking over the BES islands Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba.

Associated statehood would also imply that US Customs would take over in guarding the Dutch-side borders, something the Dutch Government considers a major issue. It would also mean pre-clearance by both US Customs and Immigration for travellers returning to the US, something Aruba has found to be very beneficial to its tourism industry.

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I feel 99% sure it is the DH's April 1st joke, the Today had one about hiring a psychic as a reporter and maybe changing the name of the paper to Tomorrow.

The story above about moving the cargo harbor is not a joke, apparently Theo is very much into the idea.

Flipper

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Well, for once I will agree with him. A new cargo harbor in Cay Bay would indeed be al ot more convenient, but then I don't understand why he would want to construct another pier in P'burg? Why not in Cay Bay?
Enfin, when will he finally dye his hair? Balkenende does it, Berlusconi does it, why not our Hon. Commissioner? I mean if you turn grey prematurely - and he did - just do something about it! And what a great time for look improvement too, with the Carnival coming up...during which you will undoubtedly be confronted again with unflattering outfits, skin you never wished to see, far too much 'keeping the island green' (which basically comes down to dumping your green Heineken cans/bottles when and where ever you fancy getting rid of them) &c. &c. Anyway, I did like the version above of the National Anthem...no lies...

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You mean self-beautification?

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Cargo Harbor to move to Cay Bay

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