Dear Editor,
Over the past twenty to thirty years, many residents; cultural- heritage activists, environmentalists, archaeologists, the late icon Mr. Emilio Johan Wilson himself and a number of international experts have called for the establishment of the Golden Rock and Industry Plantations, commonly known as the Emilio Wilson Estate, as a National Park and Protected Area. Numerous studies have concluded that the Estate is of immeasurable Cultural, Historical and Ecological value.
Mr. Wilson often expressed his desire to have the Estate protected as he understood the significance of his property, he was however hesitant to trust anyone, including Government with the responsibility to protect and properly manage his Estate. Wilson often expressed his concern that: "they would look to build and mess it up", apparently he had good reason to be hesitant. From the time Wilson purchased the Estate in 1954 to his passing on July 5th, 2002 Emilio kept his property in relatively the same state as it had been for generations, a tangible tribute to our many ancestors who were born on, slaved on, lived and died on the property.
Based on my professional expertise as an environmentalist I too have often formally provided Government with advice regarding and submitted objections to plans for the development (read destruction) of the Emilio Wilson Estate in my capacity as a board member of the Emilio Wilson Estate and Sint Maarten Pride Foundations.
On March 18th, 2015 Government one-sidedly decided to be in favor of editing the draft zoning-plan for the Cul-de Sac area in order to facilitate the proposed Rain Forest Adventures Project, to Grant the estate in long lease to Rain Forest Adventures (RFA) and to make provisions for the development of housing on a significant portion of this legally recognized National Monument. Our Prime Minister, in his capacity as acting Minister of VROMI, perhaps through no fault of his own, seems to have been left with little choice but to formalize the agreements made by those who immediately preceded him as Minister of VROMI.
This granting in Long Lease of the Emilio Wilson Estate to Rain Forest Adventures for sixty long years and in particular Government's intention to allow the construction of residences on this last bastion of Cultural and Natural Heritage is an inexcusable insult to our ancestors and constitutes a crime against our descendants. There is no justifiable reason for these decisions which are in direct conflict with the area's status as a National Monument and will have immediate detrimental consequences for the residents of the Cul-de-Sac Valley.
Here we are, "Country Sint Maarten" where some of our decision makers constantly allude to independence, and the fact that we can handle our own affairs, yet Government forgoes a prime opportunity to showcase the island's ability to properly manage its own Natural and Cultural Heritage, opting instead to peddle the Emilio Wilson Estate off to foreign investors and to allow a housing project to desecrate the area. Why does our Government deem Sint Maarten incapable of managing its own heritage?
I can write a book or two on the reasons why Government's granting of the aforementioned long lease is improper and does great injustice to the people of Sint Maarten: the internal Ministry of VROMI documents on the long lease to RFA which were recently leaked and placed online, alone, are full of inconsistencies, inaccuracies and questionable decisions, but the fact of the matter is that over the years I have already said all there is to say regarding the Emilio Wilson Estate and there are no words to truly describe the consequences these decisions have on the wellbeing of the little that remains of our Cultural Identity and Natural Heritage. Instead I will close off with some questions, perhaps one of our Honorable Members of Parliament will do their homework and care to call the Minister of VROMI into Parliament or take things a step or two further and advocate for the launching of a parliamentary inquiry into this case;
- Were the building and monument permits issued to Rain Forest Adventures (RFA) in 2012 placed on public review? Was the general public permitted the opportunity to provide input regarding future plans for the Emilio Wilson Estate, which is a National Monument? Was this information placed in the National Gazette as legally required?
- Was the Monument Council heard regarding the issuing of a monument permit to RFA?
- Considering that Government is so intent on facilitating RFA, why did Government not opt to establish the entire Emilio Wilson Estate as a protected Area and make provisions for RFA to operate in it?
- Why did Government find it necessary to lease the Emilio Wilson Estate, a National Monument, to a foreign entity for 60 years, the equivalent of 3 generations?
- Were independent Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) and Social Impact Assessments (SIA) carried out with regards to the RFA project as wells as the plans to develop housing on the Emilio Wilson Estate? If not then why not?
- Have the residents of St. John's, the Wyatt gap, Saunders, Mary's Fancy been informed of the noise pollution which will likely be associated with the establishment of the RFA amusement park at the Emilio Wilson Estate?
- Has an independent professional analysis been made of the stability of the Rock Formation to the top of the Emilio Wilson Estate/ Sentry Hill considering that the formation has shifted significantly in recent years?
- Has Government sought input from the Monument Council regarding allowing the development of housing on the Emilio Wilson Estate?
- Does Government intend to revoke the Monument Status of the Emilio Wilson Estate to facilitate the construction of housing on the Estate?
- Have the residents of the Cul-de-sac valley, many of whom attended numerous zoning plan meetings regarding plans for the district been consulted regarding the RFA and housing plans for the Emilio Wilson Estate?
- What direct consequences do the housing plans for the Emilio Wilson Estate have for the water-retention capacity of the area?
Regards,
Rueben J. Thompson (Environmentalist)
