A total of 2,210 persons have requested to be part of government’s “basic necessities programme,” of whom 2,060 have already picked up vouchers (see related story). That may not seem like a whole lot, but for such a relatively small community it is nevertheless significant.
And whoever wants to argue that some among the recipients may not really deserve this assistance, think again. Consider what they had to do in terms of standing in line, filling in forms, presenting documents, etc.
Anyone willing to go through that process is probably doing so out of sheer need and not because they enjoy it. Moreover, most locals are generally proud and prefer not to ask for help if they can avoid it.
One should realise too that homeless residents continue staying in the shelter at Festival Village, where people are still seen collecting free drinking water from the facility set up there. In addition, many others have been living in damaged houses and under broken or leaking roofs, with tarpaulin over their heads if they’re lucky.
These dire circumstances make kickstarting the reconstruction phase using 500-plus million euros pledged by the Netherlands via the World Bank urgent. Establishing a national recovery bureau to – in cooperation with social partners – develop a priority plan by February 15 appears to be a step in the right direction.
Projects that contribute both socially and economically must be prepared and executed sooner rather than later if they are to make a positive difference when it counts. St. Maarten simply can’t afford to wait much longer, because – not in the last place due to increasing unemployment – the situation on the ground is fast deteriorating.
There will consequently have to be a so-called “all hands on deck” approach during the coming weeks and months, to rebuild this hard-hit young country. Doing so strongly but also as quickly as possible is in the best interest of all who call her home.
