The announcement that Link 6 was approved by the St. Maarten Recovery Trust Fund Steering Committee (see Thursday paper) may have puzzled some. After all, what does a new road have to do with repairing the extensive damage caused by monster Hurricane Irma?
However, the prime purpose is to provide alternative access to the South Reward/St. Peters/Saunders cul-de-sac. This valley enclosed by hills with only one way in and out is very prone to flooding as experience has shown.
Especially the fact that a vast number of local schools are situated in the same area makes this a continued point of concern. The relatively high concentration of people there increases their vulnerability in case of a natural disaster should the only existing escape route be blocked.
In fact, considering rising sea levels due to global warming, similar situations in coastal communities at risk of being isolated such as Pointe Blanche, Cay Bay, Pelican, Beacon Hill and Point Pirouette will need to be looked at in the future as well. One should keep in mind that along with communication and utilities, transport possibilities too are key during the early emergency relief phase.
In general, some of the complaints over the slow pace of the rebuilding process with the Dutch-sponsored Trust Fund are addressed in a letter on today’s opinion pages by Wold Bank Vice President Axel van Trostenburg, who is visiting the island. He said four projects totalling US $128 million are under implementation and another batch of $170 million is being fast-tracked.
The latter will include restoring the airport terminal to its former glory, which is obviously crucial to the local tourism economy. Work is expected to start in the fall of this year.
The executive also mentioned the repair of 100 St. Maarten Housing Development Foundation (SMHDF) units benefiting about 500 persons, while government’s soon-to-start home repair programme with the World Bank is to assist a first total 135 households. Among other significant results so far are fixing the roof of St. Maarten Medical Center (SMMC) and making it more storm-resistant, repairs at both police stations, plus the income support and training programme that has helped more than 900 hospitality workers left jobless by Irma survive while improving their skills.
As Van Trostenburg himself acknowledged, much more is needed to accelerate the reconstruction effort while ensuring money is well-spent and contributes to sustainable development of the country. Nevertheless, it is also good to note that a lot has been and continues to be done.
