POND ISLAND--St. Maarten will soon have the means to help owners of monuments protect and preserve those precious buildings. Culture Minister Wycliffe Smith recently signed a letter of intent with Dutch Minister for Culture Ingrid van Engelshoven for the establishment of a monument fund.
St. Maarten, based on the letter of intent, agrees to set up a structure or organisation to receive funds in the form of a loan and to ensure that these funds are lent to monument owners to repair or restore the monuments.
Van Engelshoven has pledged 750,000 euros from the Dutch National Restoration Fund to help the local fund get off the ground.
Announcing plans for the fund, Smith told the press in the Council of Ministers press briefing, “On St. Maarten we have the unique situation whereby homes that have been listed as monuments are inhabited by their owners and, as we know, many of these homeowners are senior citizens who are not eligible to receive a loan.”
Smith said a request was made to the Dutch Minister of Education, Culture and Science to review the criteria of the monument fund and try to accommodate senior citizens who otherwise would not be considered for a loan and to see whether they can receive a grant instead.
To guide the monument process, government has finalised the long-awaited Monument Council. Heading the Council as its chairman is Patrice Gumbs Jr. The other members are Alfonso Blijden, Marla Chemont, Emmalexis Velasquez and Natasha Richardson.
Smith said that, in light of good governance, he thought it best not to appoint his son Donovan Smith as a council member, although his membership was approved by Parliament.
Smith plans to have his first working meeting with the council in the coming days so the council can begin to tackle advice requests on repairs and restoration of monuments damaged by Hurricane Irma.
“I wish them much success and I look forward to working with them as they deal with this very important aspect of our tangible heritage,” Smith said.
