The completion of repairs by National Recovery Program Bureau (NRPB) to 19 subsidised schools damaged by the hurricanes of September 2017 (see Wednesday newspaper) was indeed a milestone. Some may think seven years is too long, but keep in mind the impact of COVID-19.
The work didn’t actually start until 2021, following a technical assessment the year before coordinated with the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport (ECYS). The project was executed in three prioritised batches to minimise education disruption and included a logistics plan with partial relocations, online learning and staggered school days, as full relocations were not feasible.
Staff, teachers and students involved no doubt faced difficult periods during construction activities, but since then have a school that was fixed. This can be considered an extremely important use of means from the Dutch-sponsored Trust Fund, namely to invest in the future. While some other schools must still be finished by government, most educational facilities are fully operational again.
Moreover, contrary to pandemic-related liquidity support loans from the Netherlands, about half-a-billion US dollars was provided for the reconstruction fund as a grant. Sure, having it managed by the World Bank meant strict rules and regulations, with procurement requirements and procedures often seen as cumbersome and time-consuming, but the money was in any case available and did not contribute to the country’s debt.
The latter is worth remembering at the height of another storm season, with Hurricane Helene bearing down on the Florida Gulf Coast. Say what you will about remaining a “de facto” colony, etcetera, but when disaster strikes St. Maarten can at least count on its kingdom partner in Europe.
