St. Maarten Private Eye

I am a homeowner in Guana Bay. I would prefer to have things remain the same as they have been over the past few years; quiet and in a natural state. It is a fact of life though that, unless the area is purchased by government or a concerned group and set aside as a nature reserve, it wil get developed. Obviously, this has not happened and Gibbs/Guana Bays will, in a couple years, be something quite different than they are now.

The island is more than capable of handling this development, but, from what I have observed, the development is racing way ahead of any real plans on the part of the government to accomodate it with the necessary infrastructure improvements and long term master plan.

Instead of halting any new development, more time and effort must be placed on the masterplanning of what remains of the undeveloped areas of the island to help guide the final outcome to something we can all live comfortably with.

There are so many homeowners who can not vote for the right people in government to do the right thing. Where are St. Maartians that are "fighting the construction boom"? Thanks!

On the over development issue, SXM people are slowely waking up. The media is starting to bring some light to this issue as well, some media personalities are talking more about the island carrying an over capacity.

As for Guana Bay owner, I do not agree. A moratorium is needed to halt all large developments for a period of 10 years. The island seriously cannot handle all this mumble jumble concrete mess and stiflling traffic jams and lack of parking. During the moratorium the infastructure should be brought up to par with the developments that are coming online now and the any future ones after 10 years.

I remember in the early nineties, we had major power blackouts, reason was that the island had out grown the power supply. It seems we might be heading there again, and the same with water supply, for all these new developments GEBE has to invest in new cables, lines, and infastructure and generators.
If we do not and our government does not take action now and talk about the over development issues, put a moratoium in place, inventorise what we have and what we will be needing for future years, we will be doomed.

Do we really need more time share? More luxury high end gated community villas? We have to ask ourselves what we do need to make the tourism product better, and not give every developer that comes our way a permit for whatever.

Final note;
While we have been talking about Mullet Bay redevelopment for 11 years, we have to seriously ask ourselves if this is the right time to develop Mullet Bay while this madness is going on. Ansari and his soldier Derby might be working on a Master Plan, I am waiting to hear how the locals will fit into this Master Plan and if locals and residents will be allowed to park at Mullet Bay close to the beach (listen good!!!!! not at Atlantis Casino, not at the Towers, not at Maho) and go to our favorite beach without being harrassed by soldiers Derby and his Ton Ton Macoute.

In my opinion, Ansari and his home owners let us wait 11 years waiting on a re-development, we should let them wait 11 years for a planning Permit/building permit.

I agree 100% with you. We need a development plan which is designed and catered based on the amount of land that is available. Without proper and balance planning we are just setting us up for major disasters. We are into a serious problem mainly because the politicians continue to manipulate this society for personal reasons and not in the interest of the community. They need to conduct impact studies when major developments are being put in place. A simple scenarion is to add the additional cars coming from Dawn Beach when the hotel is ready and occupied. How many more cars can the suckerroad handle at a certain moment. How many more parking places need to become available when the east and teh west wants to come to town at teh same time. You tell me.

SXM Living Blog - You have got to be kidding me - 21st August 2006