TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Fence on Great Bay Beach

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Meanwhile the Maho Group and Sunwing are asking government for loans totaling $55M...

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Disgusting

When they were little, I used to tell my kids, "You can ask all you want but the answer is still no!" Hopefully the government will take this position and then stand by their guns.

If the fence is truly a safety thing, I get it but if it's an attempt to block a portion of the beach then I truly hope the people of the island say something loudly and quickly.

I know tourism is important to the island but roofs are more important to people still waiting for them.

I see nothing wrong with either. The maho group is responsible for their property and what happens on it. Generally when there is destruction/demolition or construction, the property is blocked off from the population due to liability. I'm sure this was a directive given to them. As for loans, they are a large tax payer to SXM/ The Dutch and a large employer and contributed to the local economy. They are asking for a loan that will be payed back, not a handout.

That is NOT their property they have blocked off. It is public beach. Our government is all but bankrupt relying on $ from Holland to rebuild society, homes, infrastructure. Not resorts. We have HUNDREDS of people with no homes.

and when the next hurricane comes and they can't pay the loan? Perhaps they should invest in better insurance coverage.

That isn't the only property being fenced in.
https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islan...cts-fence-to-secure-its-kim-sha-property

Yes, I saw that also. Not sure who it is that they are trying to fence out. I wonder if it is Captain D's again..

Hope not. Like Captain D's. He's been jerked around enough.

According to friends who were recently on the island, there are now several "shacks" in the vicinity of Captain D's, which I think now has a new name. I have no idea who the fence is directed but I have thought for some time that there may be the instance of "squatters" just throwing up a shack on land they have no legal rights to, no permits and running a business. I think I recall PDP getting some land between Royal Palm and Toppers in some sort of exchange a while back.

Those are the places put up when they started busing cruisers to Kim Sha. Chair rentals too. Captain D's is bigger than ever.

Is it still called Captain D's or has the name changed? I thought I had been told it was now just called "Captain's".

"That is NOT their property they have blocked off. It is public beach. Our government is all but bankrupt relying on $ from Holland to rebuild society, homes, infrastructure. Not resorts. We have HUNDREDS of people with no homes.
and when the next hurricane comes and they can't pay the loan? Perhaps they should invest in better insurance coverag.

The local authorities will have them take it down if they over reached. As for the loan, they can put in a request just like every other tax payer has the right to do. It's up to the SXM government if they think it's vital for the island recovery and grant it or deny it. As for the hurricane fund itself- I would be much more concerned if it even gets past the SXM government never mind to who and for what. We all know how corrupt they are. [

Those places supposedly have permits from the government, that were set up to service the cruise ship passengers. I don't think that Captain D's was given one of those permits. Not sure exactly where this fence is supposed to be, in relation to those places.

Every penny from the Dutch government will be overseen by the Dutch government or we won't get a penny. It was part of the deal. No Integrity, no $$

Good to hear about Captain D's. Now that Lee's is gone that will be our first night go to for takeout ribs this May.

Nothing says "Paradise" better than a chain link fence....

If it were my property, and squatters had any chance of taking it over, I'd fence it in as well. That was a great access though. Probably hoping for a lease agreement.

Really adds to the ambiance. Especially in the wake of what Irma did.

Someone put up fences at Dawn Beach too. There used to be a one meter wide path between Coral Beach Club and Busby's, but after the storm, the path was littered with debris. One can't get to the Dawn Beach via the Weston, because it is closed and guarded. Where Busby's used to be, is where the fence is located. We never did find a way to the beach there.

Sometimes, good fences make good neighbors.

So true in many ways.

That's really a shame, what the Westin did to Dawn Beach, and now you can't even get to it?? That's awful..

I thought since all beaches are public they would have to provide some sort of access to it.

Here is a pic of the Westin fence closing off the beach and at night there are roaming Guard Dogs within the fenced in area.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?....1839006706120556&type=3&theater

There was a Motion signed considering BEACH ACCESS: 17th day of April 2013

The Council of Ministers need to draft and implement a Beach Protection Ordinance.

The Minister of Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure (VROMI) are needed to strengthen legislation.

Absolutely ridiculous! Pretty soon there will be NO beaches that people can access on the Dutch side..

“.......

The Minister of Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure (VROMI) are needed to strengthen legislation. “

[/quote]

Hope these aren’t the same groups that are writing the new and much anticipated timeshare ordinances ........

50 meters = 164.042 feet