TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Mullet Bay watersports business in question

Okay, so I've read this article twice and I'm not sure I'm getting it at all. This business license owner wants to set up a business for which he has a legal permit to do ON THE BEACH at Mullet? I thought, as in the case of Karachter on Simpson Bay Beach, absolutely NOTHING in the line of a permanent structure could be constructed on the actual beach which belongs to ALL the people of St. Maarten. What part am I NOT seeing here?

If the licensee was building on Mullet Bay Resort property I could easily understand the property owner being upset and removing it.

From a visitors stand point, I hate to see anything erected on these beaches and as much as I love the BBQ ribs at Rosie's, I also get why their stand is so 'thrown together' in appearance since they supposedly couldn't build anyting permanent on the beach. Heck, I can't even stand seeing so much of my favorite beach being usurped by the sardine-like set up of chairs and umbrellas.

Is the licensee holding a permit to build on the beach? If so, I'd get it but then, I'd love to know how he obtained such a permit given the potential for both precedent setting actions againt the people of the island, along with potential environmental damage to the beaches.

I hate to see one more island beach destroyed! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

What I understand from the article is that a business license was issued but a building permit has not been issued. Two different things. Also the concrete footings were installed on Mullet Bay Property without permission.

pat--I'm not entirely sure, but I THINK this is the dreaded business that is going to rent JET SKIS on Mullet???????? Supposedly they have a business license, but no building permit, as no one wanted to act on their building permit. Well, I say, how did they get the license, if this is the place that is going to rent jet skis?? I personally will be a lot more offended by noisy jetskis than concrete footers. But I think you are correct--IF they're building on Mullet Bay property, then MB should be upset. If they were building on the BEACH, which I guess is 50 feet from the water line, they shouldn't be able to build anything..

Remembering the original discussion about this, and the letters so many of us penned in opposition to jet ski rentals there, that's what I was wondering, too. This article said nothing about jet skis and I never did hear a final outcome of all that but we all know how it works - start out with fins, snorkels and kayaks and pretty soon jet skis appear as well. But that's another discussion, isn't it?!

We've always understood the Ansary family owned all the property including the roads and parking lot between the golf course and the tree line at Mullet Beach so I don't get how a permit could be allowed but if one was, WHERE? Do you remember all the fuss over Jorritt's foundation on Simpson Bay Beach? Supposedly, no permanent structures of any sort could be placed on the beach by anyone. Wouldn't that apply to all the beaches?

Clearly, you can't pour concrete footings on someone else's property if they're saying this was done on Mullet land.

And the other thing that confused me a bit was trying to figure out if the gentleman who holds the license in question actually sat on the board that allowed these licenses to be granted in the first place and then once the granting of licenses was approved, did he leave the board and get one? <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

This part cracks me up:
"he cannot refrain from operating his business because the permit is taking too long."

So you just move ahead illegally?!

Pat--Good questions, for sure!!

Pat this gentleman was in government as a parliament member & he directly helped with the two overthrows of government once in one direction & then back the other way. He went where he could get what he wanted which most likely was this permit for one thing. Unfortunately this is how things work here but now he is in disfavor with the new government because of accusations he made so hence the lost building permit paperwork....

Sharon--is this the guy with the jet ski permit? Any chance it will be overturned now? I seriously do not want jet skis at Mullet..

OMGoodness, Girl - we gotta' talk...... <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />