The irrigation lines
ST. EUSTATIUS--Island Council Member Clyde van Putten welcomes the move by the Public Entity St. Eustatius to provide running water to the various farms in Zeelandia.
Van Putten also noted Monday that this was “long overdue,” taking into consideration that the administration led by Progressive Labour Party (PLP) and independent Island Councilman Reuben Merkman had approved and fully funded this project in 2017.
Clyde van Putten
Van Putten said the project entailed the cleaning and fixing of two wells in Zeelandia, after which two pumps were to be installed to push the water from the wells to the reservoirs, which were to be constructed as part of the project. The project also included the installation of pipes to the various farms, from the reservoirs.
At the time, the then PLP/Merkman coalition also approved money to assist farmers with the purchasing of fencing and stocks of feed for their animals.
“All of this was part of our effort as government to address the roaming animal problems on the island,” Van Putten said.
While he was “happy” to see this project finally realised, he said he “could not help but” point out the “insubordination and blatant lack of respect” on the part of Director of Economy, Nature and Infrastructure (ENI) Anthony Reid, who, he said, “is chiefly responsible for the long delay in realising this project.”
Van Putten said that “major investments” were made towards the Made-in-Statia project. “The idea was to grow what you eat and eat what you grow, which is much healthier for our residents.” This project, in the end, also has some major setbacks due to the lack of co-operation on the part of the director of ENI and the Dutch-appointed Executive Council, who failed to assist with much-needed water and other financial support.
Councilman Van Putten also raised concerns with some of the conditions being put forward by the department in return for farmers to be able to access the running water.
“There are many other projects which were approved by the PLP/Merkman government but due to the lack of cooperation on the part of directors and civil servants, many of these were not realised when we were in control of the government. However, we still feel vindicated that many of our projects are being realised at this time.”
