Simpson Bay Lagoon Critical - VROM Twists the Knife, (again)

I used to swim in the lagoon in the late 70's, I used to catch snappers and dive for lobsters and conch. I remember there used to be many stingrays, one of the best places to find them was the sand bar over to Snoopy Island where we used to camp as kids, it was always a trip going across it at night with flashlights afraid to step on one. I remember too that there used to be a season of baby puffer fish, thousands and thousands all along the shore, though I can't remember the month it was as it was so long ago and I was young. Many a time my friends and I used to paddle from Cole Bay down to Mullet Bay on surf boards, to collect golf balls and sell them to the golfers 3 for a $1.

Bit by bit the lagoon has been filled, dredged and polluted so that what used to be a natural treasure of St. Maarten has become a national shame. Mangroves and sea grass are nurseries of the ocean, a vital link in not only the life chain but also the food chain for so many species of both animal and plant life. Most people don't remember what I remember, but I know some do. Tell me please, how does your heart feel when you see it today?

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For those who don't remember what it used to look like, I managed to get hold of a few photos some time back which I used for a photo video about climate change. (Unfortunately Warner Music Group have instructed YouTube to remove all their content and it got flagged I guess for the music I used from Lord of the Rings. Seems pretty dumb to me, judging by the comments it got there it seems I promoted the music and probably helped their sales. Not to worry, Flipper tells me he hopes to be able to host it soon on this site, and deal with the legal letter from Warner when it comes.) Here are a couple of photos from that video, click the link under them to see more.

More Simpson Bay Lagoon - Old Photos

As you can see, the lagoon used to be a lot bigger, it had sandbars and beaches and vegetation around the edges. Look at the water, it's clear. The Lagoon used to be teaming with health and life, crabs by the millions, fish, birds and the bugs, worms and things they feed on.

What do we have today?

This one is from 2005, I don't have a more recent one. As you can see, it has been filled all around the edges, which instead of beaches or mangroves, are now marinas, walls and rubble. The filling has not only killed the shoreline, but many of the buildings have direct drains into it.

The real shock comes when you get close to it.

More Photos - Simpson Bay Lagoon - Pollution

Back in October 2006 I made a photo video for Flipper and SXM PE, it was my first effort at making them and I was learning, I also didn't have many photos to choose from either. I used music from Tanny and the Boys and the sound still works, hopefully they won't file a complaint and ask for it to be removed like Warner.

Simpson Bay Lagoon Video - October 2006

So, getting back to the title of this blog. This week we hear of renewed dredging in the lagoon, most likely by Peyton Cromwell, the man who doesn't think he needs a permit, or if he does have one, follow what it says,.Roy has told all developers that permits (and licenses) are frivolous details. VROM, the government department that didn't know about the original dredging or even the marina that Peyton built by the airport have now given him permits to dredge. (Not sure about the marina and if it has one.) He did get a fine for dredging before with no permit, a grand total of 500 nafs I am told.

So, VROM has given a permit to dredge and I would like to ask who on their staff has any knowledge of dredging. Delano himself, the head of the department currently under investigation for trying to extort money for favors, is reported only to have some qualification in technical drawing. I'll bet there is no one qualified in VROM who has any understanding of the environmental concerns and issues to be considered with dredging. I'll also bet there will be no inspections or visiting of the site, why would they when it seems there are few if any conditions to the permit.

Irresponsible dredging ongoing in the lagoon - 16th February 2009

Today O & C - Dredging - 14th February 2009

Now, before AM and JB get on my case about picking on the poor old government again, I would like bring up this little reminder.

EPIC and SXM Pride - Recommendations for marine and wetland permits - 8th December 2008

You see, the environmental organizations are offering educated advice to our government and it's departments, however it is always ignored. It was ignored at Dawn Beach, it was ignored at Red Pond (the Erato's made an agreement which they then broke.) it was ignored at Little Bay. The government is responsible because they appointed the head staff and oversee the departments that have created the congested and polluted island we have today.

This has nothing to do with having to make legislation and 'working out whats' the right thing to do'. It has EVERYTHING to do with money and greed over taking care of the island, and therefore it's people. It shows they hold both the environmental concerns and the groups that raise them with contempt and scorn. Some would view what has been done to this island by it's leaders as criminal.

Take the Marine Park Ordiance for example,the last we heard about it was that the Central Committee of the Island Council had to 'peruse it' and bring it to a public IC meeting. That was 3 YEARS AGO this past Sunday. They just don't care, or they are incompetent and useless, it's one or the other.

The whole point of the Marine Ordinance is to protect what is left of the marine environment around the island and to secure sustainable fishing for future fishermen of St. Maarten. I would be very interested to hear an older fisherman tell us if there is any difference in catches of 30 years ago and today. Does anyone know one? Do they understand that protecting the nurseries of the sea, the mangroves, sea grass and coral reefs, they are protecting themselves and their livelyhood.

But hey, who am I to talk right? I wasn't born here, and even though I've spent most of my life here I can still leave if I want to. But I care about the island, I care about the people and the future of the island and although my heart breaks everyday driving around it, I hang on, hoping that an awareness will come and real leaders step forward.

I see where the current crowd want to take the island, Salt Pond Ring Roads, Bridge over the Lagoon, highway through Emilio Wilson Estate, new Cargo Facility in Cay Bay, huge developments like Indigo Bay, Barbaron and others. I don't like what they want, I don't see a happy future for the people of the island. if no real leaders step forward then I'm not sure if I'm going to want to spend my later years here and be one of those unhappy people.

Caribdude

Previous articles and blogs below.

Lagoon Logs by Rueben Thompson

Dredger spotted destroying Simpson Bay Lagoon

Little Key and Lagoon Dredging

The Brown Lagoon - 17th December 2006

Whatcha' doing Bobby?? - 12th April 2006

Lagoon Life - 18th February 2006

Who will save Sint Maarten from the environmental criminals? - 19th September 2006

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