Executive Council approves
Atlantida’s Dolphin project
PHILIPSBURG--The Executive Council has given its formal approval for a 14,000-square-metre dolphinarium (marine park) to be established by the Mexico-based firm Atlantida in the area adjacent to the cruise and harbour facilities in Pointe Blanche.
A well-placed source told The Daily Herald last night that approval had been given at Tuesday’s meeting of the Executive Council, which also approved the granting of a building permit for the controversial project that is expected to attract an investment of approximately US $7 to $9 million.
The project will be built on an 8,000-square-metre plot of land to be leased from EDC/WDC (St. Maarten Economic Development Corporation/Waterside Development Corporation), Island Government-owned companies. It will also encompass approximately 6,000 square metres of sea surface adjacent to the EDC property.
This paper understands that the details as approved by the Executive Council were broadly stipulated in a document dated November 12, 2004, that was sent to Jaime Babb, Director of Development of Atlantida, by EDC Interim Director Joe Richardson.
According to a copy of that document which this newspaper has been able to acquire, Atlantida will be given a 50-year rent/lease contract for the property and will be required to deposit some $100,000 on the signing of the contract and another $100,000 six months thereafter.
Atlantida will also be required to pay a monthly rental of US $25,000 for the first 40 months and US $35,000 per month from the 41st month until the start of the fifth year, from when the monthly rental will be incremented by the local inflation rate.
The investor will also be required to start operations within 12 months, effective from the date on which it receives the building permit.
The provisional opening date for the project was originally set at December 15 this year but, according to our source, while that opening date might still be possible, it is no longer considered “realistically attainable.”
This paper also understands that the Cadastral Office (the Kadaster) has already done the necessary surveys at the project site and the exact locations for the structures to be erected have already been determined.
It was not immediately clear how many jobs are likely to be generated locally during the various phases of the project. However, the investor has agreed “in principle to hire locals on the island of St. Maarten.” Also, the investor has agreed that before hiring “other persons with residency on the island,” advance approval will have to be granted by the Island Government and immigration authorities, “due to changes in their work permits and relationship with employer.”
The project, which has come under fire from environmentalists, but has the support of the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA), will be targeting mainly visitors to the island who this newspaper understands will be asked to pay between $80 and $120 per person to visit the facility.
However, Atlantida has agreed “in principle to set a reasonable discounted entrance fee for residents to visit the facility.”
The company, which will be allowed to import dolphins, has also agreed in principle to set up “a fund (the size not specified) for environmental preservation and protection” and to carry out a public relations programme to provide information about its new venture to the public of St. Marten via the local media – an agreement which, according to this newspaper’s source, the investor plans to launch as early as next week.
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