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Great Salt Pond
Govt seeks independent review of waste system
The Daily Herald - PHILIPSBURG--The National Alliance (NA)/Heyliger government is seeking to have the firm KEMA conduct an independent cost and quality control/feasibility study of the proposed waste-to-energy plant that is to be built by Windward Roads Infrastructure to tackle the island’s growing garbage problem.
Approval for the control was tabled in the Central Committee Monday, because it will cost more than 100,000 euros, which excesses the amount that the Executive Council is allowed to sign off on without Island Council approval.
World Wetlands Day 2010. Destruction of St. Maarten’s wetlands never more apparent. Remaining wetlands need protection
SXM Pride - World Wetlands Day has been commemorated annually since 1997. Hundreds of Non-Governmental Organizations and other community based groups around the world make use of this second day of February to take special action aimed at raising government and public awareness of the importance of protecting wetlands.
Today Tuesday February 2nd, 2010 “World Wetlands day”, marks 39 years since the adoption of the Ramsar Convention/Convention on Wetlands in the Iranian City of Ramsar in 1971. “The Convention’s mission is the conservation and wise use of all wetlands through local, regional and national actions and international cooperation, as a contribution towards achieving sustainable development throughout the world”. (Ramsar COP8, 2002). Presently there are over 150 signatories to the convention with more than 1800 wetland sites designated for inclusion in the Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Significance.
Island Government signs off on 9M guilders worth of contracts with USONA
SXM Island Times - PHILIPSBURG - Leader of Government Commissioner William Marlin, fresh back from formation talks in Curacao, Wednesday signed contracts with USONA for financing totaling, 9 million guilders.
The contracts were signed in the presence of finance Commissioner Xavier Blackman, Director of USONA Reginaldo Doran, other governmental officials as well as heads of departments that the financing will cover.
SXM- Pride Press statement regarding William Marlin's housing plans 26-01-10
SXM Pride - While St. Maarten Pride Foundation understands and agrees with Commissioner William Marlin that there is a need for affordable housing, the foundation advocates that any and all development should respect St. Maarten’s Natural and Cultural Heritage and take place in a sustainable manner.
Recent reports indicating Commissioner William Marlin’s plans to fill-in areas of the Great Salt Pond for what he estimates to be 200 homes are therefore a source of serious concern.
USONA Released 9 million for St. Maarten Projects ---More Low Income Homes on the Way.
SMNN - Philipsburg: --- Director of USONA Reginaldo Doran and leader of government William Marlin signed off four projects on Wednesday. Marlin in his opening statements said all four of the projects are being financed by the Dutch Government through USONA. He said the total costs for all four projects are to the tune of nine million guilders. Parties signed off the project that is geared at enhancing legal affairs department. Marlin said this department needs strengthening since they are the ones responsible for working and giving advice on the legislations for country St. Maarten.
Eyes Wide Shut
As I drove down the Pondfill Road a couple days ago for the first time in a couple weeks my heart sank looking at the amount of pond being filled for the Ring Road. I started to wonder how many other people who gave no thought to it a couple months ago are now thinking that maybe it's not such a great idea after all?
No doubt when the flooding happens, and I think most of us know it will, then it will be blamed on 'freak weather' or some such stupidness. What is clear this morning in the Daily Herald is that much more of the pond is being filled than is necessary for the road.
The biggest laugh these last days was not the comedy show, but the lauding of TO by the PM and others for his 'vision'. LOL, too darn funny. What won't be funny will be the flooding caused by his filling of the Salt Pond for his stupid road. I'll tell you this though, while I'll feel sad for those who suffer from that flooding, I won't have much sympathy. They had a chance to speak up and the only ones that did were the Foundations, the businesses around the pond were silent. I've come to the conclusion that they probably deserve whatever they get.
SXM's Gasification Waste Plant
As reported on SXM PE previously, Theo is moving, albeit at a snails pace, in putting together a solution for the dump and waste. His solution is a gasification plant, a process that is being used in many places around the World and which may well be the best solution for us, considering we have no recycling, no public awareness and no sorting programs of any kind. This plant will 'gasify' 95% of our waste.
The real story here, isn't it always, is just how this plant is going to be set up and who is going to manage it. LH wrote about that selection process back in January. News reaching me mention something about a company that Dollison set up a couple decades ago, which has been inactive, but will be part of this operation. Yes, the same Dollison that it is rumored SOAB have suggested be removed from his current position.
It is also rumored that Windward Roads, the same people who have done such a great job managing the dump so far, will also have a role to play.
St. Maarten Pride and EPIC applaud government’s changes to Ring road---Foundations remain concerned about flooding.
SMNN - St. Maarten Pride Foundation and EPIC welcome Government’s recently announced alteration to the Ring road project. The alteration to the original plan as announced by Commissioner Heyliger is based on recommendations by the Foundations.
The change includes the designation of the Soualiga road, which runs through Pond Island, as the proposed Ring road’s eastern border as an alternative to the previously planned filling-in and destruction of the Great Salt Pans monument.
Ring Road will feature seven connection points
The Daily Herald - PHILIPSBURG--The Ring Road project will have seven connecting points from the existing road network. The “centrepiece” of each point will be a roundabout that will allow motorists to enter and exit the Ring Road.
There will be connecting points in the vicinity of Firgos Paper on A.Th. Illidge Road, Prins Bernhard Bridge, the Plaza China Supermarket (formerly Van Dorp/Los Gauchos) junction, the GEBE junction, the Salt Pickers Roundabout at the police station, in the vicinity of Melford Hazel Auditorium in Sucker Garden and close to the area behind Laser 101.
Ring Road will feature seven connection points
PHILIPSBURG--The Ring Road project will have seven connecting points from the existing road network. The “centrepiece” of each point will be a roundabout that will allow motorists to enter and exit the Ring Road. There will be connecting points in the vicinity of Firgos Paper on A.Th. Illidge Road, Prins Bernhard Bridge, the Plaza China Supermarket (formerly Van Dorp/Los Gauchos) junction, the GEBE junction, the Salt Pickers Roundabout at the police station, in the vicinity of Melford Hazel Auditorium in Sucker Garden and close to the area behind Laser 101. As reported on Saturday, the eastern section of Great Salt Pond will not be included in the Ring Road plan because of the historic nature and concentration of the salt pans located there. [More....]
