PHILIPSBURG--Independent Member of Parliament (MP) Maurice Lake wants utilities company GEBE to play a more “vital role” in the move to renewable energy.
Lake said in a press statement that he called for the move to renewable energy to be placed prominently on the agenda of today’s meeting of the Council of Ministers and the GEBE board. He urged Minister of Energy Affairs Angel Meyers to pursue a renewable energy plan in the meeting.
“We need to work towards the future by investing into renewable energy and alternative energy through LPG/LNG and by promoting solar energy to the community,” said Lake.
He commended residents and businesses that had invested in solar energy production.
“GEBE needs to adjust their meters to accommodate the solar energy to the homes. We need to promote more private-public partnership in our community,” he said.
It is “high time” the GEBE board, management and investment committee start executing the investment plan of action to reduce the cost of living for the people, he said. “St. Maarten should be the front runner, ahead of Aruba and Curaçao when it comes to renewable energy,” Lake continued.
He added that there were many “quick win” projects possible for a year under the GEBE budget, such as finalising the water tanks projects, especially in Weymouth Hill, Guavaberry Hill in St. Peters/Marigot Hill, and Cole Bay.
Purchasing of land to build more transformer houses in strategic areas, and a branch office in St. Johns for the residents of Cul de Sac should be “high priority,” as is the continued upgrade of services for seniors by changing their lights to LED bulbs. “This needs to be turned into a pilot project for the senior citizens. GEBE needs to work closely with Government to provide them with how many registered senior citizens we have on the island and update addresses to make this pilot project a success,” he said.
“Upgrading of streetlights in the different districts by making the community much safer is a necessity, especially in Fort Willem, to prevent crimes. GEBE also has to start providing fibre optic cables to residents. This will provide work for small contractors. Trim the branches from GEBE lines of overgrown bush … create much-needed work for the people,” he said.
Lake commended the Seniors Relief Programme and supports making it permanent as has been suggested by Prime Minister William Marlin.
“The Coalition of Eight will move ahead with the waste-to-energy plant discussions and review the latest draft agreement to move closer to a solution,” said Lake.
In addition, Lake noted that a recycling awareness campaign for residents was needed, as well as a move to make the older GEBE generators at the Cay Bay power plant more environmentally-friendly to limit impact on the community.
