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The Madness of King Theo
As is often the case, a story that we broke here on SXM PE finally makes it to the main stream media. Back on April 1st 2008 I wrote a blog, based on rumors I was hearing which now turn out to be true, it was meant to be satire, but not really, if you know what I mean.
This story, much like Theo's Great Salt Pond Ring Road, is a mammoth project that has questionable justification and highly costly, not just in money but also in the environmental impact. Theo plans to build a cargo and industrial complex in Cay Bay, filling in a large part of it. Go read the article below and then come back, because I have so much more to say on this matter and it needs to be discussed.
CAY BAY RESIDENTS ANGRY ABOUT FUTURE PROJECT --ENVIRONMENTAL FOUNDATIONS BRIEFED YESTERDAY.
Now, I have tried to indicate below in the Google Earth image approximately what the plan is. As Mr. Halley found out, the government doesn't like to let the public see it's plans, or any plans for that matter and no copies are available to the public. (By the way, SXM PE is the first to show images of what the GSPRR plans are, nothing has been in the press.)
My image below is just approximates based on what I can read and have heard.
I should have made it a bit clearer, but indicated in the red is the Cemetary and GEBE/Oil facilites, the green is approximately where Halley's stables and park is and the purple is Indigo Bay, (before they tore it up).
From the hill. (best photo I had.)
Theo apparently plans to fill in a large part of the bay, yes, actually fill in the bay, and create a cargo facility and industrial complex/zone. One of the arguments apparently being touted is that he doesn't like cruise passengers seeing our ugly cargo facility when they dock. I guess it's ok for them to go down the 'beautified' (sic) Sucker Garden Road, what a mess that place is now, all that rubble on one side and the broken remains of that stupid and dangerous wooden railing.
Another argument being touted is that it will relieve congestion, which considering there have been no traffic studies for 20 years or so, is really just a personal opinion.
You know what all this makes me think of? The massive debt of the Netherlands Antilles. These two mega projects of Theo's are very costly and there is absolute silence from politicians and the media, no questions asked.
It makes me sick, it makes me sick deep in the pit of my stomach. Having grown up here, spent most of my life here and seen what has been lost and destroyed already. These people, these politicians, they do not care for the island, they do not care for their people, the care only about themselves and growth growth growth, a truly pig ignorant policy when governing a small island. Meanwhile, the really important things, the community, it's youth, heritage and social structure is neglected.
No one will stop it because we are all so divided and helpless in the face of the future they plan to bring us. Just as they want us to be. Classic mushroom treatment, keep us in the dark and feed us on s**t.
Hady
PS. Mention is made of pollution from asphalt and other business that would move there. Have any of you really looked at the large amounts of smoke that comes from GEBE and where it goes? Those of you that live and work on either side of the Billy Folly hills are breathing smoke about 24 hrs a day. All those lovely villas out on the end of the point behind Pelican? I wouldn't live there if you paid me.
It's madness I tell you, madness.
PSS. I always called and thought Cay Bay was where Indigo Bay is, and the power plant was actually in Cole Bay. Have I been wrong about that for 20 something years??
Hady your favorite journalist from the herald has not seen the plan yet. you know the independent environmentalist. She said the newspaper who wrote against that project is only doing so to fill space.
Hilarious, the mushroom treatment you mentioned: keeping people in the dark and feeding them sh*t.
Can't deny it's succes up till now or can you?
Oh and who cares about a massive debt? Holland will pay it anyway (read that 'beautified' anthem, it's quite amusing: here). Policy research is such a waste of money. And the problem on this island is that in the past so many mistakes have been made, so right now there's just loads and loads to do. Take the cargo site in Philipsburg, a mistake from the very start (nevertheless megabucks were made by some...) and correcting such mistakes is always costly. Obviously Theo doesn't give a flying crap about any coral reefs, graveyards or personal feelings (except his own of course). This has never been a secret and hey, he has been democratically elected so evidently people can relate to his sentiments and approve of them. Really, these 'crazy' plans don't surprise me at all and neither do they make me physically ill, like some commentors here. It was all the the line of predictability... but if our hon. commissioner changes his mind and does want professional help from a policy advisor who can also conduct some necessary research... hughsmall30 [at] gmail [dot] com
And the financially less fortunate part of the population does get some heartwarming attention from him, I heard. They may clean up their own mess under gov. supervision... and I was also informed of the fact that the party had been lucky enough to find a treasure buried in a car? A man had been living in an old car for a few years? Amazing things happen on this island.
This project makes no sense but there may be a reason for the madness. Dredging!!!!
The harbor recently fired the dredge off the harbour project and much sand still needs to be removed to allow the crusie ships to enter the new pier.
It is understood that the dredge from Devocn is being mobilized to complete the work. Remeber Devcon?? Well the new principles of Devcon sold the construction division which includes the dredge operation, back to the Smith Family, that would be the notorious Steve Smith aka Indigo Bay and family.
Dredging operations have to be amongst the easiest operations to provide kickbacks and promoters of these two projects smell big bucks.
I smell a rat.
Mongoose
Who cares?! Halley will get $$ to be silent and he'll take his thousands (is the land even his?) the people of sxm won't give a rats a$$ and we move on. Who cares.
You mentioned that Theo does not like that the cruise facility is close to the container facility, but this is not about moving. This is in addition.
The plans are to move about 10 companies now on Arch road and the cement plant located over at PJIA to this new facility.
Plans are to dredge the bay and create land for this area to house all these facilities. My opinion is that this island grew too fast and without vision and now they are so-called trying to find space for all these mega-construction companies and cement/concrete facilities. Without a doubt this island demands a heavy commercial zone... It would be a shame though to destroy another pristine area in the name of over development. This is what happens when there is no zoning, and the island was left to develop randomly and on a rampant path for 30 years. We are now faced with all these Mega heavy commercial companies that no one wants in their neighborhood.
Greetings One and All,
Talks about this project keep surfacing ever so often; and I wish that it would stay like that...… just talks.... Unfortunately we all know there is no smoke without fire so the project surely exists but the POLITICKTIANS are just keeping it quiet until it's a done deal. They hope that when (if?) we finally wake up it will be too late to do anything to prevent them from destroying yet another beautiful area on the island. They've gotten away with it for so long why should they care now?
It is disgusting to see what is happening on our little island... In my early years SXM was a small 37 square mile island with over 14 (?) natural ponds and 37 beautiful beaches... By time my grandkids grow up SXM might be 70 square miles with NO beaches! All this "filling" is ridiculous! I cry when I picture this complete concrete jungle in my mind; SXM going down the drain in the name of "progress" enriching the wicked politricktians and leaving us with an island who's beauty is a shadow of what it once was...
Please keep us updated on their plans and any protest actions/petitions/, etc., to demonstrate AGAINST this project. I will be there.
Give thanks,
One love,
Sista.