St. Maarten Private Eye

To all readers of PI,

The above newspaper article clearly illulstrates how a developer can sit and negotiate with environmental groups.
Mr. Velasquez met with PRIDE and NATURE back in 2002/2003, this is after complaints came in from residents and enviro groups about the proposed boatyard in Cole Bay.
At the time many issues were brought forward such as filling of the lagoon, removal of mangroves, noise pollution,chemicals in the air that can be harmful to residents, etc.

PRIDE asked that a wall be constructed to block the view of the boatyard, PRIDE also asked that no work be done at the boatyard on weekends (especially sundays, and that all persons who may reside on a boat while it is being fixed adhere to this as this area is a residentail area)
PRIDE and NATURE foundation prefered that the lagoon not be filled, however due to the heavy traffic with cranes and lifts and trucks it is impossible to let this traffic go through the Kool Baai Villas residentail area, -PRIDE and NATURE requested that Velasquez replaces all mangroves that will be removed due to the filling of the lagoon for the road.
Velasquez has approved of this and has indicated he will try to save as much as possible and whatever does, he will replace by buying slips with Greenfingers or others.
In the excavation-clearing process, Velasquez uncovered an old slave wall -boundery wall from the former Diamond Estate plantation which he brought to the PRIDE's attention, PRIDE has notified the Heritage foundation and the press about this find.
Velasquez has indicated that he is open to the idea of restoring the wall, (this has to be done with permission of the other land owners of which the wall is bordering.)
At no time in this entire process was Velasquez mandated by government to meet with the enviro groups, he did this out of his own decision to be a good corporate citisen.
Government never mandated to Velasquez to keep, to restore or whatever to the mangroves. so if he had decided to neglect the enviro groups, he could have removed, destroyed what he wanted with no regard for the enviro groups and for nature.
Velasquez has invited the enviro groups to always take a look at the site and bring forward any concerns we may have.
Our assistance will be called upon when the mangroves will be replanted, especially that of the NATURE foundation and EPIC who has more knowledge in the field of replanting mangroves.

This is how developments should take place, developers who mean well, can always sit and negotiate, developers who shun the enviro groups have something to hide and they do not care about the island and the environment.
In this case, in my opinion more input from the VROM department should have been set, VROM should have been part of the negotiations with enviro groups,
Also, I fear that once the boat yeard is built, eventhough it might be complying with all regualtions, I fear that we do not have inspectors with the VROM/ROB department who can carry out these type of maritime inspections.
And the fact that the Inspection department is understaffed and without tools, and they use these arguments frequently to avoid going to sticky situations, especially when a project is politically involved with a favorite commissioner.
Mr. Dwight Barran has video footage of the public meeting back in 2004 regarding the proposed boatyard and of the meeting with the enviro groups regarding the mangroves.
This issue is well documented.

Jadira Veen
Sint Maarten PRIDE foundation
President