News that an Australian family living on their stranded boat at the Simpson Bay causeway received help to get the vessel back in the water is one of those feel-good stories. With four children, living conditions aboard the small yacht using only wind power were probably not the best.
In addition, this and other vessels slammed onto the road-bridge by Irma obviously need to be removed before they damage the structure even more should there be a storm again. The crew of a Venezuelan barge doing salvage work on the island offered their services free of charge and not only came back the next day to assist with the engine, but gave the family an anchor to replace the one they had lost.
Apart from admiration for such kindness and generosity shown by foreigners, the episode again puts into focus the many damaged boats still on the bottom or surface of the lagoon. Last week Dutch Member of Parliament (MP) Ronald van Raak suggested many of them had been bought with illegal money that has now been laundered via the insurance payments.
Perhaps, but it’s just as likely that some lacked the necessary coverage or have not – as yet – reached agreement on a settlement. One should also keep in mind that local authorities – based on technicalities and formalities – turning away the first barge with large crane from the Bahamas that appeared soon after the record-strength hurricane struck meant several sunken vessels could no longer be saved, having stayed underwater for several weeks.
Various of these wrecks can thus be considered a total loss and must be disposed of, but doing so is not as easy as it may sound. Government recently announced no remains of boats would be accepted at the two landfills, because most are built from fibreglass that can become a hazard especially in view of the frequent dump fires.
Minister De Weever said at the time that all wrecks should be left at their present location for processing or moved to approved locations when such are identified. The release mentioned working on a project with the World Bank to safely dispose of them within the next few months.
Only days later the Ministry of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure ordered all vessels removed from public beaches within seven days. Because not everyone can afford a boatyard, some of these have meanwhile been anchored offshore.
The point is that if people are made to get rid of something, they will need a suitable place to take it. Once you say “A” you must also say “B.”
