COLE BAY--Construction of a bridge through Simpson Bay Lagoon to alleviate traffic congestion that will create some 300 jobs and a housing fund from which government can actively pursue building affordable houses were among the promised "projects" the United People's (UP) party will deliver in its first 100 days if elected into government on September 17, said UP leader Theo Heyliger during a public meeting on Kim Sha Beach Saturday.
"Within 100 days of electing this party into power, we will solve the traffic problems of Simpson Bay. Not only will we solve the traffic problems of Simpson Bay but at the same time we will create 300 new jobs for at least another full term for the people of St. Maarten," Heyliger said. Those jobs will be created by using only local labour for the project.
The planned bridge will start at Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIA) end at Port de Plaisance. However, he did not go into details about how financing for the bridge will be acquired or how far along plans may already be.
The issue of a "causeway" through the lagoon was raised in June by Democratic Party (DP) Councilman Leroy de Weever who had questioned in the Island Council if designs and/or contracts were already being drawn up.
However, St. Maarten Harbour Group of Companies said nothing had been finalised other than a preparatory agreement with an engineering company to investigate the possibility of a bridge. Heyliger was Harbour Affairs Commissioner; he has since resigned and his portfolios have been redistributed by his coalition partner the National Alliance (NA).
Speaking about housing, Heyliger said that Housing Commissioner William Marlin had opened the Hope Estate apartments on Friday; a project that started in 2005 with money from the harbour shares buyback fund that he, Heyliger, had negotiated.
He said UP will build more homes if elected by establishing a housing fund into which PJIA will pool some of its earnings as it is the only government-owned company that doesn't pay a concession fee "at this time."
"While we have a beautiful airport, it is time our airport also contributes to...all of St. Maarten. It is time the beautiful airport transfers [funds] for beautiful homes for our people," Heyliger said.
As a spin off from the housing fund, Heyliger said at least 15 small local contractors will get the job to build the homes.
Speaking about health care, the UP leader also promised that within the first 100 days in office the contract for the expansion of St. Maarten Medical Centre will be signed as well as a contract for the upgrading of Middle Region, similar to the improvements in Philipsburg, and St. Peters/South Reward.
At Saturday night's meeting the other 22 candidates on the UP slate for the first parliament of Country St. Maarten also shared the platforms they will champion if elected. The party's platform focuses on improved education, affordable housing and crime reduction.
The next UP public meeting will be on the De Weever Property in Dutch Quarter today, Monday, at 7:30pm.
UP is one of four political parties contesting the September 17 election. Also in the race for seats in the 15-member parliament of Country St. Maarten are Democratic Party (DP), Concordia Political Alliance (CPA) and National Alliance.
