Daily Herald story Other than the Orient Beach situation, I personally don't really understand what the other issues are.

Pretty confusing.

"Saint Martin Wake-Up supporter Patricia Chance-Duzant commented: “We can’t work in our own country or run the show, or reap any of the benefits. Instead of protecting the pioneers who created this country, the Government is giving away the big projects to outsiders."

"stop the systematic replacement of St. Martin employees all over the island by others who are “imported”; control the regular flow of seasonal workers, above all those coming from France,"

“We can’t continue to be economical slaves to outsiders."

These point to social/political issues much deeper than the leases at Orient Beach. When you see who controls the wealth in St. Martin, you can better understand their concerns. It is not just about the leases at Orient, it is about the future of their children and their children’s children.

Exactly, and in so many ways this applies to both sides of the island. So good to see the clarification. The people of this once sleepy little island are growing teeth and voice and are starting to roar.

Again, sympathy to those who were truly inconvenienced for a day or two by the protest actions, but I get it and hope they are able to reach some kind of satisfactory resolution. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

wow, that does start to get confusing.

Well, I get that, in general terms, but I don't understand EXACTLY what it is that they want government to do, or not do. For sure, I understand that there are a lot more deep seated issues than just the leases at Orient. However, the issues there are easier for tourists to understand. I would like to understand what the other issues are.

thats the part that started to lose me. I am going to talk to Pat about this when i get down there. He can fill me in

If you look around the French side you will see quite a bit of building everywhere not just in the tourist areas. Many French nationals are permanently moving to St Martin for too many reasons to go into here. Because they have the same rights as local people this is causing friction.

The whole situation on Orient seems like a set=up or a first class screw-up. Why did the Collective wait until after the beach bar owners made their repairs to announce its plans? They had to have known for some time what was going to happen because it takes a while to negotiate a land purchase and draw-up plans for the facilities. Why did they not confer with the bar owners to get their needs and ideas? It seems like that would have made the design and construction go smoother with less complaints after everything was done. I'm not a conspiracy nut, but perhaps the government was trying to get rid of the previous owners so it could substitute people more friendly to the Collective. Just a thought.