PORT ST. MAARTEN – On Saturday morning, the Captain of the cruise ship Carnival Fascination took the final decision to still call at the port and to disembark passengers after assessing the situation regarding the fire at the landfill.
Port St. Maarten Management informed taxi driver’s and other stakeholders about the situation after keeping them abreast to whether the ship would still make its call after the cruise line was advised Friday evening about the Pond Island landfill fire.
“The decision taken on Friday evening when the landfill fire was raging, was taken to protect the image of the destination. We are pleased that after an early Saturday morning assessment by the Captain of the Carnival Fascination, the shipper decided that it was okay to allow his passengers and crew to spend a lovely day on the ‘Friendly Island.’
“Government and cruise stakeholders are very cognizant of the current state of affairs of the country and will continue to take decisions in the best interests of the nation, based on events that could have a negative impact to the national economy.
“We would like to wish the Carnival Fascination passengers and crew an enjoyable cruise experience while they explore our island today, Saturday,” Minister of Tourism & Economic Affairs Cornelius de Weever said.
On Friday, tires at the Pond Island Landfill caught fire and the Fire Department as well as the company that manages the landfill worked throughout the day and evening to contain and extinguish the fire.
