Cornerstone laid
for Westin Resort
DAWN BEACH--St. Maarten is now home to Westin Resort, Spa and Condos at Dawn Beach with the official laying of the cornerstone by Columbia Sussex Corporation President William Yung and Commissioner Roy Marlin Monday afternoon.
The property, slated for completion in December 2006, will boast 310 hotel rooms and suites, 100 condominiums, a casino, a full service European-style Hibiscus Spa, restaurants, retail shops, ultra lounge and night club, amongst other amenities. The project is financed by Scotiabank.
The laying of the cornerstone comes some seven months after the developer showed interest in redeveloping the property, which was left in ruins by Hurricane Luis 10 years ago. The St. Maarten flag was hoisted by Leader of Government Sarah Wescott-Williams and a Westin flag by Jung to signal the official naming of the property.
The resort development, which is moving at a fast pace, was not without opposition as was pointed out by Marlin in his speech to the gathering of Columbia Sussex and Star Wood Resorts officials, Executive and Island Council members, hoteliers and other invited guests at the site.
He said that while some persons had had legitimate concerns about the project, others had had “personal agendas disguised as love for St. Maarten” that were aimed at “killing a positive project” that would provide gainful employment for the island’s young people and its residents, especially those who are unemployed.
Environmental groups and groups of concerned residents spoke out against the project for various reasons, including the removal of a natural pond and mangroves from the site, the building height and beach access.
Despite the “road blocks,” the path to laying the cornerstone was worth it, as the branding of the property as a Westin is in line with every government policy such as the Multi-Annual Policy Plan (MAPP) and the Tourism Master Plan TourMap, which underscores the need for the island to attract brand-name hotels, Marlin stated. Noteworthy about the project, he added, is that government did not have to give any guarantees to the developers, as has been requested for similar projects on other Caribbean islands.
The resort developers were challenged by Marlin “to fill the jobs with St. Maarteners” by giving opportunities to students studying at home and abroad, those who want to enter the work force directly instead of pursuing tertiary education and unemployed persons.
He signalled government’s commitment to working with the resort to retrain unemployed persons for resort-related jobs with collaborative courses in 2006 through educational institutions.
Wescott-Williams echoed Marlin’s sentiments when she told the gathering, particularly the developers, that the island had persons to fill positions in top and middle management and general areas.
She added that developers could count on government’s support as long as there was long-term contribution to the development of the island, which would be evident in the creation of employment for the island’s people and the stimulation of small business.
Yung affirmed that resort operations would create jobs for the island and serve as “a drawing card to get more developments to the island.” A marketing plan for the resort and the island will be discussed soon with Tourism and Economic Affairs Commissioner Theo Heyliger.
The commissioner called the development “the dawning of a new era,” as the island was “catching up” with new projects and hoteliers investing and improving their properties, after 10 years of decreased room inventory due to natural disasters.
He commended the developers for choosing to invest in St. Maarten, as investments such as this help the island become “less dependent and more independent,” especially with the quest to become a country within the Dutch Kingdom.
This project “demonstrates the island’s ability to create jobs for its people” and has the capacity to make even the strongest sceptics of the project talk positively once it is completed, Heyliger stated.
St. Maarten and Westin is a combination that is perfectly described by the resort’s motto “As Close to Heaven As You Can Get,” said Star Wood Resorts vice president Kevin Regan. (Alita Singh)
St Maarten Apartment for vacation rental
