PHILIPSBURG--Resident Raphael Dorra has submitted a petition to government aimed at urging utilities company GEBE and government as its shareholder representative to cancel the bills of its consumers during the current coronavirus COVID-19 lockdown.
The petition garnered a total of 3,280 signatures. Dorra told The Daily Herald recently that as a tour operator and owner of the Philipsburg Trolley Train, he can see “the really tough future” ahead of residents in the country in light of the current health crisis gripping the country and the world.
“I am in contact with so many people who are already desperate. We barely got back on our feet after [Hurricane – Ed.] Irma,” he said. His goal was to accumulate as many signatures as possible.
The petition read: “On Sunday, April 5, to be able to fight the spread of COVID-19, the government decided to put St. Maarten in total lockdown. All citizens have to stay at home, without the possibility to work. Meanwhile GEBE, the public service provider, still plans to bill electricity and water consumption. We will be asked to pay bills to a public company while in the meantime the government is giving us the strict order to stay home.
“We ask the government/GEBE to cancel the bill consumption of all customers during the period of mandatory lockdown.”
