Work resumes today
on Festival Village
~ Seating for more than 300 people to be added ~
POND ISLAND--Getting a good seat in Festival Village this season will no longer require taking up residence only at one of the booths lining the perimeter. Work starts today on the village’s “pavilion” that will replace the twelve temporary booths close to the entrance, facing the stage.
The NAf. 5 million financing agreement between government and contractor MNO Vervat St. Maarten (formerly Koop) was signed by Public Works Commissioner Theo Heyliger and company Managing Director Jeroen Grootenhuis in the Government Administration Building on Thursday. The funding is derived from the NAf. 5 million annual concession fee paid by St. Maarten Ports Authority (SMPA) to government.
Heyliger said the pavilion would enhance the Festival experience for revellers and concert-goers who want to enjoy the happenings from a bird’s-eye view. On the upper level of the pavilion will be two bleachers with 150 seats. Two enclosed viewing booths with a bar, kitchen and other amenities are also planned for the upper level.<
Explaining the scope of the project, Head of New Projects Development and Planning Kurt Ruan told The Daily Herald the major construction work would be wrapped up before the opening of Carnival Season 2008 in April.
Convenience and comfort for revellers are high priority in the design of the pavilion. The women’s bathroom will be fitted with 40 cubicles and the men’s will have 10 cubicles and six urinals. This is three times the capacity in the old Carnival Village, said Ruan.
Two double Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs) will be installed on the ground floor where the 12 permanent booths will replace the makeshift ones in existence. Four rental office spaces and a multipurpose conference room are part of the plans.
With thousands of people descending on Festival Village, provisions have been made for permanent housing for the Police Force with holding cells, security and Red Cross booths.
MNO Vervat St. Maarten was the contractor for the redesign and upgrade of the brick-paved Festival Village last year. The redesign saw the expansion of the village from the dusty Carnival Village ringed by mismatched makeshift booths.
“The Festival Village we can all be proud of. Like so much more in St. Maarten, it is unique in the Caribbean. When this second phase is finished, there will be added reason to enjoy Carnival and other happenings in safety and comfort,” said Heyliger.
