First section of Back Street
reopened with band music
~ Second section closed this morning ~
PHILIPSBURG--The drums of Soulouiga Jump Up Brass Band echoed up Back Street as the band made the first official trip on newly paved Back Street, from Plaza Olivia to Philipsburg Cultural and Community Centre.
The street was reopened to vehicular traffic Monday afternoon.
The first section of the beautified street was reopened by Commissioner Theo Heyliger who initiated the project paid for by a concession fee St. Maarten Port Authority (SMPA) pays to the Island Government.
Back Street is part of the Philipsburg rejuvenation project, which includes the the completed upgrading of Front Street and the Executive Council-approved plans for the upgrading of Cannegieter and E.C. Richardson Streets.
The only finishing touches that need to be completed on this completed section of Back Street are the placement of bollards to prevent parking on the sidewalks and the removal of the overhead cables and utility poles. All utility cables have been placed underground and the overhead cables will be removed when the entire street is completed in four months.
The second phase of the Back Street beautification starts today at 9:00am when the section from the Parliament building to the Kadaster office is closed off to vehicular traffic.
Opening the first phase now will allow Carnival shoppers to carry out their business in comfort, Heyliger told the press after the drum band had finished entertaining the crowd of onlookers, construction crew and other officials.
The project started on time and was completed in time. “And I am yet to see a major court case [filed] or questions being asked,” he said referring to the threat of Peoples’ Progressive Alliance (PPA) leader Gracita Arrindell to go to court to stop the work soon after it started more than three months ago.
She claimed the work was illegal because it had not been approved by the Island Council of which she is a member. However, Heyliger said in response that the project had been approved with the 2007 Island Government Budget.
“Now, everyone can shop in St. Maarten instead of going to Europe. You can buy books and everything in Philipsburg and help to stimulate the local economy,” he said.
Several persons on site were of the opinion that vehicular traffic should be restricted on the street because of the ease experienced by shoppers and other pedestrians who had used the street during the repaving when traffic was barred. Heyliger shares this view and believes it would encourage more people to shop on Back Street, but said the street would remain open to vehicles for now, until other projects around town were completed.
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