Dear Editor,
November 30th marks the official end of the 2018 Atlantic Hurricane Season. With an appreciative heart I join with the rest of the nation in giving thanks to the Almighty for His mercies in keeping our little island safe this hurricane season.
No one needs to be reminded of the destruction of last year and we have all held our collective breaths since June 1st. Although we gratefully did not have any storms come our way, we did experience a few instances of heavy rainfall and flooding over a period of a few weeks. In close collaboration with the Meteorological and Fire Departments the VROMI Ministry closely monitored these disturbances and responded appropriately by issuing the necessary alerts to residents, pre-emptively activating our water management system which pumped water from the Salt Pond into the Great Bay sea and stood on standby to quickly deal with any damage caused by the flooding.
By all accounts, as our world continues to deal with the challenges related to climate change, St. Maarten, as a small island developing state, will have to remain vigilant in our ability to prepare and respond. Adapting the core value of resiliency into our short-, medium- and long-term vision will effectively demonstrate that we have learned the lessons taught to us by Hurricane Irma.
The recently started 10th EDF project, the “Dutch Quarter sewage project,” is one such example of building resiliency into our projects as we continue the task of upgrading the quality of life for the citizens of our country. The project will lead to an expansion of the sewer network in Dutch Quarter, an upgrading of the side roads, improvement of the overall drainage system, improvement of public streetlighting and the construction of pedestrian sidewalks. We will not just build back, but build back better.
The Ministry also has several projects in various stages of preparation and execution within the St. Maarten Recovery and Resilience Trust Fund. We are partnering with several entities to rebuild the roofs of many vulnerable families in our community. The Emergency Debris Removal project will clear our lagoon of shipwrecks as well as remove the Irma Landfill. Fire suppression activities and improved waste management are scheduled for the main landfill and public buildings, such as the Philipsburg police station and Simpson Bay substation, are to be repaired.
As we continue to rebuild our nation strict adherence to laws, regulations and requirements are critical in the times ahead. In ensuring that our island moves closer to becoming a resilient nation stringent inspections and enforcements will become the new norm. I call on the business community and residents alike to have all required permits and permissions in order. Dilapidated buildings, which pose health and safety risks to those around it, will be demolished at owners’ expenses. Persons caught illegally dumping garbage and sewage will be fined. We all have a responsibility and a part to play.
St. Maarten, we cannot deny that our island has made great strides in our recovery during this past year. We have proven that we are a strong, spirited and hard-working people. As your Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure I pledge to continue working tirelessly to make certain that come next hurricane season we can all breathe a little easier.
God bless Sint Maarten.
Miklos Giterson,
Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure VROMI
