PHILIPSBURG:--- During the first round of the public meeting of parliament on Tuesday on the draft amendment to the 2024 budget, Member of Parliament Darryl York presented a motion to the Parliament of St. Maarten with the aim of preserving all ponds on St. Maarten.
While the motion has been presented and supported by nine additional members of parliament, the motion has not yet been voted upon. The chairlady of Parliament, Sarah Wescot Williams, may well postpone the handling of the motion, including the voting of the motion, to another day when parliament is convened after the handling of the amendment to the 2024 budget.
Draft Motion
Mullet Bay and Coastal Protection
The Parliament of Sint Maarten, in its meeting of today, 29-10-2024:
CONSIDERING:
That the Preamble of the Constitution of Sint Maarten states: "WE, THE PEOPLE OF SINT MAARTEN," are "...DETERMINED to care for the perpetual maintenance of nature and the environment";
That Article 22 of the Constitution of Sint Maarten mandates the government to maintain the country in a habitable state, to improve the natural environment, and to ensure the welfare of animals;
That in 2013, the Parliament of Sint Maarten passed a motion to protect Mullet Pond and its mangroves as a Nature Park, highlighting its ecological importance and economic value to the island’s environment and tourism;
Studies like The Ponds of Sint Maarten (Ecovision, 1996), the Carrying Capacity Study, and the Tourism Masterplan, along with other reports, have consistently highlighted the significance of preserving Sint Maarten’s ponds due to their ecological and environmental value.
Historically, Dutch Sint Maarten had at least 19 ponds, as recorded on maps stored at the Cadastre’s office. By 1995, this number had decreased to 10, and today, fewer than five remain undisturbed.
That the current beach policies under the Ministry of VROMI (Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment, and Infrastructure) and TEATT (Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport, and Telecommunication) lack a cohesive, enforceable ordinance that can effectively regulate construction near beach zones;
That zoning areas of ecological importance as national parks or protected areas can aid in maintaining the island’s environmental integrity, safeguard public spaces, and support sustainable tourism.
RESOLVES:
1. To urge the Council of Ministers to demonstrate a proactive stance on environmental protection and management, particularly with regard to coastal and ecologically sensitive areas, by taking visible and enforceable actions.
2. Zoning of Mullet Bay: To urge the Government of Sint Maarten, through the Ministry of VROMI, to initiate and implement zoning plan(s) that designate Mullet Bay areas, its coastal lands, as protected zones, with clear restrictions to prevent destructive development in accordance with its RAMSAR listing site no 2270.
3. Designation of Mullet Pond as a National Park: To reaffirm the resolution passed in 2013 and to formally secure the Mullet Pond area as a National Park, with explicit protections for its mangroves and marine life, enforcing measures to prevent activities that would compromise its ecological health.
4. Unified Beach Ordinance: To urge the Government of Sint Maarten to create a comprehensive Beach Ordinance, unifying policies under VROMI and TEATT, to better regulate construction adjacent to beaches. This ordinance should include, but not be limited to the following provisions.
-Restricting building heights and density near the beaches,
-Mandating environmental impact assessments for any proposed development within a certain proximity to beach zones.
-Mandating that public access to the beach maintains a width of a minimum of 3 meters, coupled with an accessible walkway.
5. Protection of Remaining Pond Areas, namely:
1. Welgelegen Pond better known as Little Bay Pond (adjacent to Bel-Air Hotel)
2. Red Pond at Gibbs Bay
3. Great Salt Pond
4. Fresh Pond
To submit to parliament within 30 days an action plan based on the conclusions/recommendation of the study “The Ponds of Sint Maarten, Sustainable Development and Management” and any subsequent official report that assesses the state of our ponds.
And goes over the order of the day.
Copies of this motion to be sent to:
-The Governor of Sint Maarten
-The Council of Ministers of Sint Maarten
-The Council of Advice of Sint Maarten
