Last week, the SIMARC Foundation organized tree planting events for National Tree Day. At three of these planting locations the 30 trees there are doing fine. However, at the Welgelegen Roundabout, six trees have been severely damaged by free-roaming goats. The question for the community is, should we continue to allow uncontrolled roaming goats on our streets, or should we stop planting in the ‘goat-controlled zones'. Although constructing large, ugly, wire fences might help, it will not stop the goats assault elsewhere. Perhaps the bigger question is, who owns these goats and why are they not enclosed as they should be, or why has a control by authorities not been enforced? These roaming goats not only destroy plants but they also are a dangerous public hazard to traffic on the roads. It is true that roaming goats are an ‘old time' tradition for St. Maarten! However, with our growth as a more urbanized society, the times have changed, and now these roaming goats are a public problem. If the goats will not be controlled, then we will remove the trees and leave the roundabout bare, and the goats win. Yet, it seems more important that we recognize changes in our community, such that some traditional habits must adjust to our modern lives, and for public health roaming goats need to be controlled.
