TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Port strike could affect SXM

Well at least not the Miami part , hence we will survive .

The way I read it just for the cruise ships.
"PortMiami and Port Everglades, remain unaffected. These ports continue to operate normally for cruise ships, as the ILA strike focuses solely on cargo operations."

I believe you are correct. Cruise ships will operate but any other cargo will NOT be moving.

The shortages forecast for the USA are the exports from the Caribbean. The list includes bananas & booze (rum).
The only reason people in America are seeing empty shelves of toilet paper is because of Panic Buying.
https://www.ncesc.com/geographic-faq/what-are-main-exports-of-caribbean-countries/

@sxmmartini - That link you provided is awful, I don't know where they randomly generated those commodities for many of the islands. What hit me first was cement as a major export for Antigua. Untrue. Then I saw that a major export from St. Kitts was tobacco. Untrue. I double-checked with the oec and worldbank data, just in case I'd missed those big tobacco plantations. Looking at some of the other windward and leeward islands showed even more impossible data. BVI exporting building materials? Not a chance.

Nonetheless, rum drinkers in the USA might be in a spot of trouble, unless they've stockpiled...

I agree! The real question is how much food is imported from the USA to SXM? I would think the Dutch side is importing American food products but the French side mostly imports French products.The fast food (BK, KFC etc.) are supplied by USA shipments. Where do the eggs (needed in many restaurants) come from? I could go on and on. Very interesting what items disappear off SXM shelves in the coming days.

Tropical Shipping operates out of West Palm Beach and is not unionized

Yes , thanks .

A non union shipping company out of West Palm Beach… that ain’t happening. I would think towing the line and respecting the strike without crossing the picket line would be good advice.

No guarantees on that. Has been announced on our local news that some non union and union affiliated west coast ports are going to refuse to service rerouted east coast container ships.

Back to SXM it needs to start producing some kind of food security. I realized the soil is bad and there is no farming but what about raising chickens for eggs and poultry? Goat farming for goat cheese and so on. SXM takes it for granted when they go to Carrefour that all is good.

More infrastructure the island and GEBE can't handle. Takes a lot of power and feed to raise poultry chickens and egg producing chickens. GEBE can barley produce enough for the general population.

Living in Vermont I am not seeing a demand on the power grid to raise chickens or goats?

Super U Hope Estate (maybe other stores as well) has local eggs, from Rockland Farms.

https://app.magicofthecaribbean.com/listing/rockland-farm/

While encouraging local sources for food is a worthy goal, comparing electricity sources in Vermont to SXM is a bit disingenuous. Vermont has always raised chickens and goats and lots of other food items, so it does not need additional power to do so.

Over half of Vermont's electricity is hydroelectric power that comes from Canada. The majority of the 44% that Vermont generates itself is also hydroelectric power. SXM is an island, so it's restricted to what electricity that it can generate on its own and hydroelectic power is not an option.

For your information , there's a lot of gardening being done in St.Peter Hill by two big Farmers .

I would say they are a lot better equipped than GEBE in SXM.

Strike is now postponed till January 15th.👍

Yes just saw it and God's Blessings , be positive people . Sa la Vie .
And the harsh reality , is that the World has become totally Digital . We pay all of our bills via Digital .

Also with this strike , it's their last straw , because everything in the World has become totally automated . But some people with the big money will get away , Bitcion etc .
And Politically , the powers will be their to ensure that their monies are safe .
Just sitting with my Dear Wife Shirley , having our Wine , but mine with Cranberry juice , looking at our property , we and our our two children are set for life , but me and Wife will make sure that , our life will be great and travel the World . God's blessings .

Happy for you Bruce