PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure (Ministry of VROMI) Hon. Maurice Lake says he is very pleased with the dialogue sessions that have taken place between the Simpson Bay Community Council board and the management of the Harbour Group of Companies over the past weeks.
"I fully and totally believe in transparency and openness, and community engagement. This is my back to basics approach, from the ground up. The draft Simpson Bay development plans are what it is, a draft, and changes can still be made.
"After the last public meeting regarding the draft plans, I found it very important to bring together the stakeholders as further discussion and dialogue was needed. I met with the Simpson Bay Community Council and I organized a dialogue session between them and the Harbour Group of Companies.
"Urban planners draft plans for community discussion. That is their role with respect to drafting preliminary plans on what is possible for the respective districts. The proposed pier at the entrance to the Simpson Bay Bridge was a major discussion point and I am glad that more clarity and information was provided to the Simpson Bay Community Council.
"The Simpson Bay Lagoon Authority has a regulatory responsibility for the lagoon area, and I thought it imperative for them to share their vision with the community council of the district. You cannot move forward if you don't have the support of the people, and I wanted to open the avenue for the dialogue to begin and for a relationship to develop," Hon. Minister Maurice Lake said on Sunday.
Minister Lake is also very pleased with the social initiative taken by the harbour group of companies including that of the Simpson Bay Lagoon Authority, a subsidiary, to help the Simpson Bay Community Council with respect to the painting of the cemetery. Eight individuals from the community came together and painted the outside and inside walls, columns and gates.
"A great job was done with the painting of the cemetery where the harbour group donated the paint. The community banded together for the beautification and preservation of the village, and this is indeed a role model for other communities, and also for those living within their own district. We have to all work together," Hon. Minister Maurice Lake said on Sunday.
Click here to view before and after photos of the Simpson Bay Cemetery.
