PHILIPSBURG:--- The St. Maarten Carnival Development Foundation has strongly objected to a government decision to close a section of Pondfill in front of booths operating along the roadway, saying the move effectively creates a second Carnival Village and harms official stakeholders inside the main festival grounds.
In a letter addressed to the Minister, SCDF President Edwardo Radjouki said the foundation was shocked and disappointed by what it described as a unilateral decision taken during the height of the Carnival season.
According to the SCDF, the closure blocks direct access to the official Carnival Village and has angered booth holders who operate within the venue.
The foundation also criticized the government’s handling of roadside booths on Pondfill, noting that an original policy allowing 24 booths was expanded to 41. SCDF said the increase has created what it called a chaotic and uncontrolled environment that authorities, including KPSM, are struggling to manage.
The organization further alleged that booths outside the Village remain open longer than permitted and that roadside seating, previously prohibited, is now occurring, resulting in large gatherings on a major public road.
SCDF said its own licensed booth holders inside Carnival Village continue to face frequent health, fire, economic, and tax inspections, while suffering declining sales because of activity outside the venue.
The foundation also raised safety concerns, arguing that crowds gathering outside Carnival Village are doing so without security screening, weapon checks or proper controls.
As a result, the SCDF is requesting an immediate meeting with the Minister and is calling for the decision to be reversed. It also wants broader discussions about the Pondfill booth situation to include the foundation directly.
The group said it expects a swift response from the government as Carnival festivities continue in St. Maarten.
