Although not completely “new,” it seems fitting to welcome the incoming supervisory board of GEBE. The local utilities provider has been through a relatively tumultuous few years, with changes in management and, of course, the onslaught of Hurricane Irma in September 2017.
At the same time, people are rightfully looking for their government-owned electricity and water distribution company to keep the power on and water running, prevent utility tariffs from going up, improve customer service and even promote sustainable energy. This, while its main office is still in shambles and other facilities are not all yet completely back in proper order either.
Yes, much is expected of GEBE under difficult circumstances, including contributing to a better environment. It is therefore a pity that plans for solar panels over the existing parking lots on the Pondfill that would provide shade in the process were shelved because the then VROMI minister did not agree with signing over the land to secure the investment.
That same minster signed an MOU for a waste-to-energy plant as part of tackling the dump problem. However, the premise had obviously been that GEBE would buy the final product and management, backed by the former board and current VROMI minister, believed the envisioned rates were simply too high.
So, there are lots of loose ends to work on, but the biggest challenge may be the current lack of finances after existing monetary resources were basically drained to repair the equipment, power grid, water tanks, pipes and streetlights. The company was thus not able to fully finish the job in every nook and cranny of the country.
The wait now is supposedly on means from the Dutch Trust Fund managed by the Wold Bank to continue GEBE’s restoration process in earnest. But several of the streetlights that were so commendably fixed within a relatively short period following a natural disaster of such magnitude, also considering the need to import materials, have meanwhile gone out again, leaving various dark spots including in tourist areas.
Should this problem not be dealt with soonest it could hold back the crucial recovery of the Dutch side’s hospitality industry and consequently the island’s economy going into what will hopefully be the first semi-real “high season” since last year’s catastrophe. If it’s indeed a matter of time-consuming procedures, perhaps arranging an advance via local banks based on pledges already made could be considered.
Let there be light.
