VROMI, Sint Maarten Timeshare Association, Hotels, Local Business Work Together
PHILIPSBURG:--- An unprecedented public/private partnership led by VROMI working in conjunction with the Sint Maarten Timeshare Association (SMTA), Oyster Bay Beach Resort, The Westin Dawn Beach, Princess Heights, Coral Beach Club, Mr. Busby's and other local businesses and organizations in Oyster Pond has come together to carry out urgently needed repairs to public roads in Oyster Pond.
The repairs carried out by Windward Roads were started on August 28 and completed within five weeks at a cost of $39,000. In total, 250 square meters of badly damaged asphalt road have been ripped out and replaced by steel-reinforced concrete road built to standards set by VROMI to support the heavy traffic that occurs in Oyster Pond near to the French border. At the same time, parts of the road were re-designed to ensure that the occasional flooding from heavy rains that occurs in that area does not threaten the personal safety and security of any of the road users.
Ricardo Perez, General Manager, Oyster Bay Beach Resort, stated that "This project would not have been possible without the active support and involvement of VROMI and the $26,000 in financial support of the SMTA Dollar a Day program, which is a voluntary contribution to the well being of the island by our timeshare tourists.
"The deterioration over the past several months of critical road sections in Oyster Pond had resulted, not only in an eyesore for residents and visitors alike, but more importantly damage to vehicles and potential safety hazards.
"With further deterioration likely in the next few months, access to and from important tourist destinations such as Dawn Beach, Princess Heights, Coral Beach Club, The Villas of Oyster Pond, as well as Oyster Bay Beach Resort, could have become dangerous or impossible, requiring immediate action."
Mr. Perez, having secured financial support from the SMTA, appealed in June for additional financial support from local businesses, resorts, and residential neighborhoods, who together committed an additional $13,000.
On being approached by the SMTA with an urgent request for assistance, VROMI responded immediately, forming an unprecedented public/private partnership to address the problem in conjunction with their selected road contractor, Windward Roads.
Maurice Lake, Minister of Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure VROMI, stated "In these times with reduced public budgets and increasing demands on the public purse, local communities and businesses must step up to help government address their needs.
"By combining forces, government, businesses and the people can work together for the greater public good, protecting our most important industry, tourism, and enabling a better quality of life for all.
"Under my leadership, VROMI intends to be a responsible and responsive partner in addressing the urgent needs of the people. We will work in support of all local community initiatives that are in our common shared interests and in the best interests of Country St. Maarten."
