Unbiased look at the Sint Maarten Elections
MARIGOT--The Préfecture announced Friday it has created a brigade of twenty workers who will be solely charged with removing Sargassum weed from beaches and returning beaches as much as possible to their original state.
These workers will be employed by a local company and paid by the State and Agence de L'Environment et de la Maitrise de L'Energie (ADEME). They will be given all the necessary equipment to work with.
In addition, a committee of observers to monitor the movements of the weed was also installed.
The decisions were made following a meeting on Thursday between Préfète Déléguée Anne Laubies, President of the Territorial Council Aline Hanson, and various services and partners concerned with fighting the Sargassum weed invasion.
A protocol was signed between the State, Collectivité and ADEME. The objective is to have the beaches cleaned as soon as possible before the tourism high season starts.
The Préfecture noted that Sargassum algae, while in the water is in itself not toxic, but once on dry land and decomposing it gives off Hydrogen Sulphide gas and therefore persons who are sensitive to the fumes, those with respiratory problems, asthma, and young children, should stay away and avoid touching the algae.
In cases where the algae are too dense for swimming, a swimming ban may be imposed.
