Philipsburg:--- The Members of Parliament representing the United People's Party led by Minister of Infrastructure Theodore Heyliger laid the blame on the residents of St. Maarten and the owners of heavy equipments for the deplorable road network on St. Maarten. Member of Parliament Dr. Ruth Douglas addressed the Minister of Infrastructure Theodore Heyliger as their captain on the floor of Parliament House on Monday prior to making her statements about what the Ministry of VROMI should do to curb the running sewage water on public roads. Member of Parliament Douglas said that the government should begin issuing fines to those persons (residents) that are caught emptying their sewage on the public roads. The UP Member of Parliament also blamed heavy equipment owners for the deplorable state of Front and Back Street as well as for the many pot holes seen on the public roadways. She also called on her party leader "the captain" to take the necessary measures to make sure heavy equipments stay off the roads during peak hours. MP Douglas said that government should seek to implement some kind of taxation on the owners of heavy equipments that uses Front and Back Street because it is because of them the tiles on the two main streets are sinking.The United People's Party Faction leader Member of Parliament Romain La Ville was allowed to stray from the topic being discussed when he elaborated on youth delinquency during the meeting called to discuss the current road infrastructure. La Ville said the various road projects that are being undertaken by his government creates work for the youths in the various districts. La Ville also asked his party leader to provide some explanation regarding the drainage and irrigation plan for the Cole Bay area. He said it seems awkward to him that the manholes and drainage pipes is on one side of the road while the running water is on the other side of the road.
Members of the National Alliance Faction namely Member of Parliament Louis Laveist and the leader of the National Alliance William Marlin posed several questions about the quality of work that is being delivered by the contractors that are contracted for the various road projects. Laveist asked Minister Heyliger to update Parliament on the Bridge across the lagoon and who will undertake the cost of building such a bridge. He also took the Minister to task regarding the deplorable state of Front and Back Street. The National Alliance Members of Parliament asked Heyliger when will the two main streets be upgraded and who will shoulder the cost of the repairs. Laviest said he also wants to know what will happen to the "ring road" and when this project will be completed. The former Democratic Party stalwart asked Minister Heyliger if the land that was created around the ring road was given out to the residents of St. Maarten and if that was so who obtained the parcels of land around the ring road. Laveist further asked the Minister to provide Parliament with criteria applicants for the ring road land had to provide before acquiring the parcels of land. Laveist then took a swipe at the Minister for the midges that are infesting the island all of which he said are due to the filling in of the Great Salt Pond.
Leader of the National Alliance William Marlin asked Heyliger if he is bent on executing projects and not making sure that each project he executes is completed. Marlin said the Minister should make sure that there is a proper maintenance plan for each project. "Had government made sure there was proper maintenance plan and guarantee in place from the contractors Front and Back Street could have been in better shape." Marlin asked Minister Heyliger when would the Bridge project be brought to Parliament and who will be undertaking the cost of the project. He said he heard that a barge of piles is already on the island and he wants to know if there is any truth to that. Furthermore, Marlin said he heard that users of the Bridge will have to pay toll fees and that too he said needs to be clarified. The Members Parliament representing the National Alliance said they want to know if the SLAC articles of incorporation allows them to carry out such projects and if the necessary environmental impact studies were conducted for the Bridge and ring road.