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Simpson Bay Community Still Highly Concerned.

SIMPSON BAY:--- As the fight to preserve the Simpson Bay Lagoon continues, the community at large is working diligently to provide their objections to the proposed "Development/ "Zoning" Plans by the Ministry of VROMI. The Simpson Bay Community Council (SBCC) has had several meetings with the Minister of VROMI Mr. Maurice Lake, a meeting with the Managing Director of SLAC Mr. Mark Mingo and two meetings with PJIA's Managing Director Mrs. Regina Labega to discuss the communities concerns. The members of the community are strongly opposing any more filling in of the lagoon, the increase in the amounts of marinas, the development of a boardwalk as well as a cruise pier.
In the meeting with SLAC many questions were posed and all answers provided preached that these projects within the development plan are only "ideas" and no feasibility studies have been conducted therefore these projects will not be taking place. SBCC urged that the 'proposed' cruise pier and boardwalk be taken out of the development plans given that no feasibility studies have been conducted. SBCC argued that if SLAC/Port of St. Maarten's 'vision' is to expand the cruise industry, expand it in Great Bay which has already been ruined by overdevelopment. Each party shared their concerns and opinions and at the end of the meeting SBCC still felt as if the vision set out in the development plans are already a done deal.
The second meeting with the Airport took place last week, where Minister Lake as well as PJIA's Managing Director Mrs. Regina Labega and her staff met with the SBCC to further discuss the 'Master Plan' of the airport. The following are three major questions that were raised , (1) Why is the Airport Master Plan from November 2012 presented in the Governments proposed 'Simpson Bay Development/Zoning Plan", if the Airport's master plan was updated before the Development Plans were placed on public review?, (2) How many private jets get turned away each year for the past 5 years? and (3) Why has the hindrance permit for PJIA never been updated?
When the first question was asked both the Airport delegation and Minister Lake seemed surprised and could not answer why the old artistic impression was in the development plan. They also stated that nothing can be done about that at the moment but when the final plan goes to the Council of Ministers the new airport plans will be inserted. The Airport delegation brought with them a printed version of the Airport's 'most recent' artistic impression of their 3-5 year Strategic Plan to the meeting which had several other projects in it that no one had ever seen such as a marina located near the Causeway that would cater to huge mega yachts. When the Airport was asked about this 'possible' marina they first stated that they could not provide clarity on this project as it was an idea from SLAC. When the question was then directed to Minister Lake all of a sudden one of the representatives from the Airport was able to provide clarity on it. The Airport representative said that this project was removed from the master plan vision and should not be on it. They promised that when the digital version of the Master Plan is communicated to SBCC that that project will be removed from the 'artistic impression'.
The second question was geared towards understanding the airports motivation for the expansion as SBCC struggles to understand the need for destroying the environment for economic gains that may be only wishes and hopes rather than a true demand. SBCC is still awaiting the answer to the second question. Other questions were asked and although clarity was provided SBCC is still very worried about the future and the impact that their efforts will have.
SBCC also noted that they are preparing a document with objections to the development plans and once this document is submitted to the Ministry of VROMI they will make their document public to the community at large by means of an online link that will be available on Facebook as well as through a community meeting which will be announced on a later date. SBCC would like to urge all members of the Beacon Hill, Pelican, and Simpson Bay community and the general population as a whole to read the development plans with a critical eye and do not be afraid to voice your concerns. "For those of you who may not have the time to read VROMI's Development Plans, please take a chance to read our objections and feel free to submit the same document on your own behalf. The more people we can gather in support of our struggle the better" said SBCC.

Press Release from the Simpson Bay Community Council

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