United Front supports
Marriott/Westin project
PHILIPSBURG--Dawn Beach residents and other concerned citizens who were critical of the alleged excavation of a retention pond on the old Dawn Beach Hotel property, now the site of a Marriott or Westin Hotel, have come under fire from United Front and United Federation of the Windward Antilles UFA.
United Front President Willy Haize said the pond was a garbage dump and was polluted, and residents should not get upset over this issue. “Anyone who uses this pond can get terrible disease,” said Haize.
He threw his support behind the establishment of a Marriot/Westin Hotel on the island, saying it would create jobs for many unemployed persons and rake in additional revenue for the Island Government.
“Don’t upset the progress of the work for this hotel to go up,” said Haize. “We want the community to know that this project will benefit the economy of St. Maarten. An investment like this is what the workers were looking forward to, to abolish poverty and crime.”
He said United Front was against residents who condemned any aspects of the project, especially a “minor” issue such as the pond.
“I seriously question the motives of these residents, because when this five star hotel is completed many persons will benefit. Why are they against something that would benefit the island? Are these residents against prosperity? Don’t they want to see our economy blooming?” He said.
“It’s high time that these residents put up or shut up and do the honourable thing for the people of St. Maarten to benefit from the project.” Haize said if the hotel destroyed the pond it would create a much more attractive feature to compensate for the loss.
United Front official and Raysil Construction owner Etienne “Tochi” Meyers said heavy equipment operators on the island also stood to benefit from the project. He said the heavy equipment operators also backed this investment for the island.
There has been some work around the retention pond and the digging of a new pond on the property recently and residents and the Nature Foundation have voiced their objections to the pond being filled in or tampered with, as it is said to be a rich habitat for various plant and animal life.
St Maarten Apartment for vacation rental
