CAYHILL:--- Residents of Cay Hill came out in numbers Saturday evening to the 'What Cay Hill Needs' community meeting organized by the Cay Hill boys and the Soualiga Social Movement. After a welcome by the foundation's board members and some words of encouragement by the Prime Minister and Community Police, residents wasted no time in letting their issues be heard.
Problems such as derelict vehicles, dilapidated buildings, rodent infestation, zoning issues and sewage water running onto the road were brought up by the over 80 residents that attended. Several residents pointed out dangerous traffic scenarios they have seen over the years and asked the Community Police to please look into possibilities of rerouting some traffic, placing speed bumps and making sure the proper signs and mirrors are in place. The derelict basketball court and socially deplorable state of 'H-Town'(Haitian Town) proved to be very emotional topics of discussion.
When the topic of unemployment among the young Cay Hill boys came up, the Soualiga Social Movement and the Community Police presented a few initiatives they had been already working on for the unemployed over the past few weeks, and encouraged them all sign up. Later in the meeting, commissioner of Police Carl John, as a resident of Cay Hill also encouraged the boys to take work offered to them and to realize that they need to start somewhere.
Mr. Nicky Owen who has supported the initiative of the boys from the beginning suggested that the community take pride in what is in their backyard eluding to the way the basketball court and sports complex has been vandalized over the years. The young men from Cayhill had decided to volunteer and help Nicky by cleaning and maintaining the Sports Complex on the weekends.
The suggestion to form a community council in Cay Hill to represent the issues and interest of the neighborhood was most welcomed and applauded by all. Over 13 residents from different walks of life volunteered to form such a council. Nicky Owen of the Raoul Illidge Sports Complex expressed how proud he was of this initiative and offered the facility as a meeting place if this council would need it.
Amoung the attendees were several representatives of the government including but not limited to Prime Minister of St. Maarten, the Most Honorable Mrs. Sarah Wescot-Williams and Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labour the Honorable Dr. Cornelius de Weever.
In closing, the Soualiga Social Movement thanked, the residents, foundations and Ministers for attending and showing interest in the issues of the people. The Foundation also promised to work alongside and advise the volunteers as they go about actually forming the Council. A follow up meeting is planned on Saturday March 9th, 2013 to hear from the Council on how they plan to go about handling their issues.