TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Orient carbets FINALLY to be rebuilt

Daily Herald link

Read down through the story and it seems that FINALLY the Collectivite' is re-letting the carbets on Orient. Now, some 15 months after Irma?? Ridiculous. Oh and this time the tenants have to build it themselves, but somehow only containers will be allowed? How visually tropical...

If you go to the newsletter itself there is much more information available. It is available in english and french. Do that and you will find what you have said here is incorrect. The collective is taking a common sense approach for a sustainable plan to deal with the realities of beach construction. There is nothing ridiculous about what they are doing and how they are doing it. Take a good look at the newsletter and see the total scope of what they are dealing with. Dont rely on a newspaper article that only summerizes the situation.

No, what is RIDICULOUS is that they are just NOW putting out the leases. THAT is totally ridiculous.

For those who haven’t read it, the English version of the newsletter can be found at http://www.com-saint-martin.fr/imag...bbs/e-newsletter-2-decembre-2018-ENG.pdf

The section regarding Orient is on pages 16 and 17.

Thanks for posting the link. Lots of information pertaining to other projects in it too.

I can do without them.

Maybe you can but they do add a lot of attraction to the tourists and locals at Orient.

I liked the gaminess of the previous restaurants and shops. The new things did little appealing IMHO with a big parking lot.

The worse part about that place was at night with giant Northstar parking lot light that destroyed all night vision as far away as mt vernon out into the bay. And the place was closed at night. Hope that does not get replaced. Was way overkill.

A lot of great lunches in the ones that were there before the last attempt. Ethnic, Aloha, and Leandra(sp) were solid. Never went to the last attempt but options are always good for competition and options

Huh???

What???

We always enjoyed walking down the beach for lunch. Hope they are open soon

The newsletter clearly shows the scope of what the collective is dealing with. We are not in a position to know what is needed and when. Uninformed negative commentary is insulting to those who are in charge and to the citizens they serve.

Parking lot light is so bright you can see from the moon. Extreme light pollution.

I beg to differ. There is absolutely nothing in that newsletter that shows anything unusual at all about what is going to happen there, and what IS needed is for government to not wait now SIXTEEN MONTHS to even LET the previous spaces. No reason at all why they couldn't decide what they were going to do within at MOST six months and get the places rented back out.

And, it there was inadequate lighting people would complain about that.

Sadly, most of what is happening (or not happening) with the French side has been slow to non-existent. Talk to a local person and you will find many are not happy with the progress, or lack of. There is a lot more to WHY than one might imagine.

Actually, I am very much in favor of the lighting of the parking lot, as I'm sure the business owners were also. Bright lights help to deter human roaches....

Yes. Added security.

Yes, light is good for security, but just blasting light in all directions is an abomination. Light shooting into the sky does nothing but become light pollution and obscure the stars, we should be able to look into the Milky Way on SXM.
Point the light where it is needed, put shades on the lamps to keep the light down,maybe even motion activated lights so you are aware if someone suddenly approaches.
Keep the light down, where it can repel roaches.

Now that i know how to onshow photos, maybe i can find a photo at nigjt from mt vernon. It destroys the whole night sky for a parking lot that has no cars or pedestrian traffic. Let me find the photos. Perhaps one has to stay at mt vernon or up on the hill to see how bright it was.

Bright lights on a beach is harmful for nesting and hatching sea turtles. Nature Foundation should look into this.

I've actually not heard of sea turtles nesting on Orient..

Ok.

I found the pics,’just have to grab to show. Inhave one at night and ealy daylight that shows how bright it was feom im guessing a mile away.

I see your taking lessons from me on proof reading. Lol

My wife and I, along with others, witnessed baby turtles that had hatched and watched as they made their way to the ocean in front of Club O. This particular hatch was during the daytime.

Inasmuch as all of the "shacks" that used to be there were closed by the time it got really dark, and all the more recent short-lived carbets, as well, due to the fact that there was hardly anyone on the beach by then, I do not understand why there needs to be bright lights in the parking lot. Were they installed to encourage people to stay there longer?

Two thumbs literally and a lousy iphone keyboard and with the aid of autocorrect and miller lite.

I think originally they thought the carbets would want to be open in the evening. Still the benefit of lights from a security standpoint cannot be overstated.


I had not heard about Orient being a sea turtle nesting spot before, but I guess any beach is a logical place for them to nest.

Agree 💯! With today’s LED Parking lot lights there is no reason to have night sky light pollution. Intial cost a bit more but zero maintenance for 10+ years and 10% of the electrcal usage.