TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Post Irma Things not Fixed on the Dutch Side

Similar to French post, I’m trying to get an country of what was damaged/destroyed and what has 1) no progress to date or 2) some progress to date:

No Progress

1) Pink Iquana removal
2) Pelican statue repairs at the airport turnabout





Progress

1) Princess Juliana Airport Terminal
2) Royal Pam Resort

With all due respect, what is the purpose of this list?

A lot has to do with permits for these vessel removals. Two years ago, while cruising around on our Rhino riders we saw dozens and dozens of wrecked vessels from small to large. We were told that a salvage company came in, started to remove these vessels. Was told, no permit, you have to leave. So vessels like "The Pink Iguana", she's still there. Two years ago on our Rhino riders I found a small freighter that knock a house off it's foundation in Sandy Ground. She's still on top of it!! We saw it again on our second trip this past November!! I would post some photo's, not sure how that is done here. (Yes I know, "S G" is on the French side, just making a point) So if you think that there will be movement with any emergence, you are sadly mistaken. Side note, now that the "Tub" "D-Boat" is smashed up against the rocks in Beacon Hill. God know how long it will take to remove that!! Now that is really dangerous!!! If it gets lose, God knows where it will end up??? I said it long time ago, it should have been dry docked until she was fully functioning!! IMHO.

No Progress

1) Pink Iquana removal
2) Pelican statue repairs at the airport turnabout

Priorities ???

I think the D Boat will just be added to the list of MANY trashed ships on the Dutch side and ignored

You may well be onto something.

Roofs, home and school repair, infrastructure, government. The pelicans can rot.

I noticed the damaged Pelican statue near the airport too! I think I might have said, "AW!" out loud and my husband was like, "what?"

That's what i've been afraid of.

Ive read alot of reports about what is and isnt fixed and a recurring theme is French is behind Dutch in making progress.

Is the French side really behind, the lists might show.

Pelican--you don't need a list. The answer is "YES", the French side is behind. Way behind.

All one has to do is take a look around, the French side is way behind. Especially in specific areas.

If reconstruction after a hurricane should include environmental considerations and planning for the future, it's possible that the French side is ahead of the Dutch side. Rapid reconstruction of beachside hotels and casinos is no proof of progress.

Both sides of the island were hit hard by a natural disaster, and all of the people who live on the island -- on both sides -- have my sympathy and support. Real progress has to do with low-income housing subsidies, fresh water, burying electrical lines, school construction, and so on -- and both sides still have a long way to go. But be kind -- Irma was a huge storm.