TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Dump continues to burn

Has anyone been following Barbara's posts on Facebook? The dump is on fire again and is really bad and affecting the whole Dutch side.
https://www.sxm-talks.com/st-martin-news...sing-in-action/

A citizens group met today with the minister of Vromi in the afternoon. The outcome was stated as this: "The meeting was very informative and we learned a lot, but mainly that this is a mess that cannot be resolved overnight."

It seems that a new minister who only took office in December is responsible now.

So still not a lot of action but lots of words.

And meanwhile the people are suffering! What a shame!

The flames were huge yesterday afternoon. The smoke could be seen and smelt...all the way to the airport!!

It is still smoldering, this morning....

the gov't continues to fail its residents and visitors .

Imagine that! Been going on for years and new governments produce the same results on the island.

Sounds like it just started yesterday <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" />

The burning dump is not only ugly to see but a major health hazard..not only to residents but to tourists...the people who actually support the island...especially the Dutch side.
I don't know about you guys but more and more I'm getting the feeling that the government doesn't really understand how important it is to the island to bring in tourist dollars and worse...they don't seem to care!! Unanswered police emergency phone lines, slow or no police response, major traffic tie ups, and what appears to be rising blatant daytime crime offences against the very tourists whose dollars the island desperately needs.OR..am I overreacting??

Editorial in the Daily Herald here

Not overreacting IMHO. The politicians are out for their best interest it seems and the same problems get kicked down the road. I had a conversation with a long-time island resident (local) a couple of weeks ago. He has basically given up on the Dutch side political system and he personally thinks the French side is worse. He cited the Marigot Marina area as an example, along with the dump situation.

I wonder how the french-side can be considered "worse" in terms of simply performing the basic functions of government. A toxic cloud of smoke routinely hangs over a significant part of the dutch-side population - even when not on fire, a massive dump is in the center of the capital city - the utility company is a joke - a significant number of the country's legislators cannot read the language of the law. What is amazing is how many wonderful hardworking people keep things going despite the absurdities.

Just relaying his opinion. He used to follow the politics a lot but has given up. He was born on the Dutch side, lives on the French side and has serious concerns.

That is my point . No planning ..... They just ignore the issue ..

I know that you were just reporting his opinion - which I thought was interesting. It makes more sense to me that he would say what he did given that he lives on french-side.

If I lived on the island of St. Martin (as a whole....) I'd have serious concerns, too, regardless of which side. The acrid aroma of burning trash is terrible and I doubt it knows the borders and that its supposed to stay on the side where its created, so really, no one is immune from its effects even if its primarily a Dutch side concern.

Years ago we had a local dump in the next town that kept catching on fire and it had nothing to do with dump dwellers or scavengers but with the methane gases that built up underground and were easily combustible, igniting sometimes into raging infernos creating disgusting and health effecting fumes. For the island Fathers to make the innocuous statements about keeping windows closed is ludicrous.

It's not like this is a new problem to the island and every new administration (administrator) acts like they never heard of the problem before. And they all opt for studying the situation - the time for studying is done. It's time they applied some of those studies and actively do something for ALL the people of the island.

I know government gives a lot of money from their coffers for 'fun' things like Christmas decorations, regatta funding, Carnival funding and lots of other things islanders enjoy but c'mon peeps, this is a health issue and before monies are spent on any of these fun items, health and safety matters such as these need to be seriously addressed. Perhaps instead of these donations, or heaven forbid - the raises for government officials, and don't forget the celebratory galas and off island travels in search of more revenues and potential visitors, they should take this problem seriously and DO SOMETHING CONSTRUCTIVE FOR ALL THE PEOPLE OF THE ISLAND regardless of which side you call home and regardless of whether you're a resident or a visitor since all can be so adversely effected by this on-going health problem.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it!! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/smashpc.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/smashpc.gif" alt="" />

That makes sense so it has zero hope of happening

I am traveling to the Divi resort in July. Are we going to have a problem with this burning smell? My son has asthma and that could potentially make him sick. If it is an issue I will change my reservation to Simpson Bay area.

Sadly, the smoke goes where the winds take it. From what I understand there was smoke from this latest fire as far away as the airport the other day.

Am I better of in Simpson Bay rather than Divi? Where will it be worse?

You are far better off in Simpson Bay than you are at Divi. Divi is close to town where the dump is located. Simpson Bay is at least over the hill and the hill itself does block most of the fumes. Better still, Maho and the Cupecoy areas are even further away. Your other option is Oyster Pond since the prevailing winds are from the east and Oyster Pond will be upwind from the dump fires.

No one can answer that. It depends on which direction the wind is blowing, and whether there's a fire when you're there.

Yes, I would say anywhere away from Philipsburg would be the best option.

We are at Divi now, the smoke or smell never came over this way.

Two weeks ago it was very visible from the airport but it was not creating much of a problem. It all depends on the wind direction, your sensitivity and the weather. Many locals (especially young children) were impacted.

I am coming in July.....isn't that rainy season? Shouldn't the fires be calm by then? Or is it worse in wet weather from the smoldering?

That is a long time away. I would still plan my visit and see what is happening when you get to the island. Winds, rain and weather can change and what is happening today will likely not be what is happening a week from today.

I am just torn about canceling my ressie at the Divi. My friends are staying there so we were going all together there.

Kabs,

I'm a 'what iffer' but if I were you and wanted to stay with my friends I'd skip the what ifs and book it, Danno.

There's no guarantee there will be dump fires during your stay, although given the dumps track record there is the likelihood there might be, but there's no certainty of the direction of the winds ergo the acrid odors.

We stay in the Mullet/Cupecoy area and we smelled it all the way over there for a few days on one of our trips but the fire had been burning the whole week before and we hadn't known it until that morning.

If you're truly concerned from a health standpoint you might want to bring a surgical mask or else pick another island. Not trying to be facetious but there's just no way to know..... <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

not only do the elected ministers seem unable to deal with the mounting problems on st.martin but they get paid a TON of money to attend all the photo ops you see in the Herald on a regular basis.i believe it is 10k a month per minister--no wonder why at election time there are so many candidates!

In Anguilla, we had clouds of the smoke passing, dirty brown terrible.....kate <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/canada.gif" alt="" />

Never was an issure at divi. The winds typically blow it towards the other side of great bay

Nature Foundation launches petition regarding dump