Hey All,
The Gove has been trying for years to take the bar and restaurant way from the owner. They are really on him now. Pat, the owner pays his staff to clean the beach daily, clean up the parking lot, he is the one who installed the trash cans and has them emptied. It takes his (paid) staff up to 4 days to clean up after the easter festivities after the area has been turned into a giant trash bin. He pays taxes to the collectiv. Please help by signing the petition at the link attached to help him save what is a beautiful breach but will become trash if left to the g0overnment.

http://www.petitions24.com/support_the_tropical_wave_and_save_galion_beach_spirit

thanks! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

Where is Tropical Wave?

Le Gallion. My understanding is that they have been trying to get rid of him for years. Honestly, while I wish him luck, I can't see that the St. Martin government is going to pay any attention to a petition signed by tourists, or even one signed by locals.

I agree on that one. A petition signed by tourist will have no say in what is done.

I disagree, they get their money from the tourists just like anyone else. they will of course listen to the citizens most but we have some weight!

that is tantamount to saying we, the people that provide the living for most have no voice.

I am not trying to stir the pot but is the establishment there legally?

it has been there for over 30 years and pays taxes. please read what i wrote, that beach would be unusable if not for Pat

actually over 40 years

I have patronized him for many years but there is a problem. He is in a National designated natural area and has been kinda squatting there for years. Hope the best for him but looks like they are serious now. If you look on a map all of Pinel Island is in the same park. Wonder if they are going to close those places too.

Do you know this to be factual with regard to the taxes? Again, are they there 100% legally on the beach? I wish them well.

JohnB..while I don't know the situation, I was wondering about the location and it being protected land.

yes, he has his tax stamp clearly posted. since when have many of the beach bars in st. martin/st.maarten been 100% legal. Many started as squaters but since they are paying taxes they let it go.

not saying all are not 100% legal but many started out not that way to be sure.

I would say that is exactly true. And I'm not certain that we SHOULD have a voice. This is a matter that the local government should decide.

My understanding in general terms - as with most things on that island there may be all kinds of stuff going on behind the scenes. It is not the government (the Collectivitie) - at least not directly - that is giving Pat the boot. The Conservatoire du Littoral completed a deal with SCI Le Galion last year and now has control (if not complete ownership) of the entire parcel on which the old hotel was - including Tropical Wave. The Conservatoire and the Reserve Naturelle have plans for what will happen to this land after they get rid of the old buildings. I think they have something like 1 million euros to use in total. Old buildings have asbestos which among other things makes removal expensive. Tropical Wave's only alleged "right" to land may have been because of an old deal with the hotel owner - who now is definitively out of picture.

Karibuni and Yellow Beach on Pinel are pretty secure - I do not think the Reserve Naturelle has any plans (at least not now) that would impact them negatively.

You are correct Snorkeller. I do have a problem with their idea as they have said in the past they want to return it to a park. Here lies the problem, they will not maintain it as well as pat does and it will turn into a trash dump. You should see the place right after easter. Pinel Island is safe because it is a much more known location to tourists whereas Tropical Wave has always been considered "off the beaten path". this is a very bad idea by the gov't imho

great article. I hope they back off. this beach and area will be a disaster without pat there to maintain it.

I don't understand - they offered to build him another place. Was that on the beach as well?? Sounds like a win win?? Granted 3000 a month is probably what the problem is. How is that price compared to what he's paying now? Tropical Waves is LeGalion. They really need to find a way to keep it in the equation

I'm confused by the story, but possibly they would build him a restaurant where the old Le Gallion hotel is now?? No idea. But where do these officials get their idea for rents from?? Same crap as on Orient..

Yup - I read it as different tracks of land. AW16 and AW17

Which I have no idea where either one of those tracts are, exactly.

From what I read it will be in a different spot.Maybe it's not located in the Nature Preserve so it will be to far from the beach. Then again it looks like they want to take care of him like they did the other beach vendors on the Orient side. I wish him luck but this has been going on for a few years now and I think the outcome is that he will lose.
The Nature preserve has been getting very active this last bunch of years. First they banned the mud baths and then nudity on Tintamarre then ordered the tear down of the controversial beach bar on Pinel. On the tear down it took some time for them to get it done but prevailed in court so my guess they have the right to enforce the regulations of Nature Preserve. From what i have seen of natural areas in the US they are just that no vendors or commercial operations just a place like it was before anybody got there.
Now on the subject of trash on the beach the whole area is a giant trash can. Tropical Wave picks up around their area but the rest of Gallion Beach is just covered in trash. I would suggest a local education campaign on pack in pack out. But that's another subject

Check this out:http://reservenaturelle-saint-martin.com/en

Hey John B, the itonic part of this is he is the one who alerted the colectiv of the value of the area to begin with. I for one do not like the look of the new places at orient, it has zero character from the photos i have seen. Taking away and homogenizing the things that make us love the island is not a smart move in my opinion. The other thing we need to keep in mind is the cleaning, have you e4ver seen what the entire area looks like after easter, it looks like the dump on the salt pond and Pat and the staff clean the entire area. I can guarantee the collective will not be doing any cleaning and a beach that people love will be overrun by trash and crime. Very sad

I understand what you are saying and hope to give you a better response next week. I'll be back on Orient Beach and will be in a much better frame of mind with my natural negativity somewhat in check

John--I think your response, while not encouraging for the future of Tropical Wave at it's CURRENT location, was pretty spot on. Sometimes they appear to be moving at a snail's pace, as was the case on Pinel, but the Nature Reserve seems to be pretty inflexible.

I wasnt necessarily disagreeing with John at all, he is correct and it doesnt look encouraging but i for one am always of the belief that at teh end of the day if people stand up they do (sometimes) listen. Just because it is the plan doesnt mean it cant be stopped or changed with some public outcry. I also understand your statement earlier about my signature not being of much help on the petition since i am from the states but i also feel if they see enough people that come to the island and ultimately help in a very large way to pay for what the gov't does they will realize they might lose some visitors over things like this.

not going to disagree with you Pat, more than likely you are correct but i am not one to go down without fighting, just not in my nature. When i lose i want to know its not for not trying.

can you imagine where this country would be if we didnt stand up to the british, or ireland for that matter. there are many instances where at least voicing discontent can alter a direction.

When i spoke with Pat about this last year they had at that point never offered an alternative, now because of outcry they are. you never know! Dont give up the ship, its not over till its over, you wouldnt have won if we'd beaten you! I could keep going but i wont!

here is the latest, I was told that the gov't of St. Martin does give weight to signatures on petitions of visitors, they of course dont carry as much as a resident but they do take it into consideration that visitors are important to the economics of the island and their opinions are to be factored. That being said, here is the link again if anyone chooses to sign the petition.

http://www.petitions24.com/support_the_tropical_wave_and_save_galion_beach_spirit