BELVEDERE--Member of Parliament Tamara Leonard (United Democrats) is “very concerned” about the lack of action by St. Maarten Housing Development Foundation (SHDF) and Housing Minister Miklos Giterson to repair homes in Belvedere.
“It has been more than a year since [Hurricane – Ed.] Irma, yet nothing seems to be happening. The residents of Belvedere go to sleep every night wondering what will happen to their belongings whenever there is heavy rain and some wind. There must be clarity as to what the issue is,” stated Leonard.
She has taken note of the court case won by a group of the Belvedere residents, but adds that she wonders if this really was a win for the residents.
“A verdict that states to not pay rent rather to do your own repairs still leaves a lot of gaps to be filled in by residents and the Housing Foundation,” she said in a press statement. “What will then be considered basic/needed repairs? Will the residents have to request building permits by the Ministry of VROMI [Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure] or will the Housing Development Foundation take care of this, as they are the rightful owners of the structures?”
Leonard has written to Giterson via Parliament requesting an urgent update on the repair status. She is particularly concerned about the minister’s role in this matter.
“Has the Ministry been in contact with the foundation and its residents? Have the Belvedere homes been taken up in the 550 million euros government is supposed to receive from Holland? Are these homes even insured?” asked Leonard in her letter.
