TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Brian Mingo Interview

Thanks for the link but that is 14 minutes of my life that I will never get back. Lots of excuses, "over ambitious planning" that was done in 2019 under HIS watch and oversight and mistakes on the temporary arrival hall. Sorry, he sounds like a politician who is good at making excuses. Completion by the first week of October he says, we shall see.

Thanks for your sacrifice; now I don't have to lose those fourteen minutes!

You are quite welcome.

From what I read in Berger's newsletter, he is retiring at the end of this year. I guess he is like any other politician, trying to cement his 'legacy' somehow. I already know what his legacy is--incompetence, arrogance, and a project ridden with graft, ridiculous cost over-runs and gross negligence. I just hope it will be done by October.

Very well stated.

By the way, a story in the Daily Herald today (not in the online version), says that the grand opening is supposed to be NOVEMBER 14. I swear, it was supposed to be October??

Mingo indicated some special ceremony in mid-November but towards the end of his interview he said "no more excuses, first week of October" and then alluded to the mid-November event.

He would never mislead us, would he?

Ah, sounds like more fudging of when it really will be ready.

Imagine that!

Perhaps a celebration coinciding with 11-11?

Sorry, what is 11-11?

My mistake...I was thinking about 10-10.

OK

It is Veterans Day and also WW1 Armistice Day

bdeeley--well yeah, but my point was I didn't think it was any kind of a holiday in SXM.

Well, it is. It is one of their most important holidays. November 11th is St. Martin's Day or Sint Maarten's Day and is the day that Christopher Columbus sighted the island on his second voyage in 1493. The island is named after St. Martin of Tours whose Feast Day is also November 11th. Sint Maarten Day, by law, is celebrated only on November 11th, and unlike other public holidays, there is no provision for an alternate date if the holiday falls on a weekend.

I would call it a huge holiday on the Island.

The "soft opening" is scheduled for sometime in October 2024. The Grand Opening is scheduled for November 14th 2024. And, A key pillar of the 80th celebrations will be the Royal Celebration of the renovated terminal building. This festive celebration will take place on November 17, 2024.


PJIA Article in the Daily Herald

Ancy chance any of this is planned around you visiting?

I will be right there in the thick of it. If I'm available, me and the King might throw back a few cold ones. Back in 2006, during our visit,we flew into the old terminal and flew out of the new terminal.

bdeeley--Well, St Martins Day isn't what you said. You said Veterans Day and WW1 Armistice Day. Regardless this event doesn't seem to have anything to do with any other holiday on island.

We will be there from 11/8-11/22, maybe we will run into Brian, I am sure he will be around to keep his schedule 😄😄

Carry on

Sa la vie but still the home for me , Wife , Kenya , Elijah , Baby Zion and Dad Lance .