Members of the Advisory Board in front of the Public Library.
ST. EUSTATIUS--This week’s meeting of St. Eustatius’ Advisory Board was not short on issues.
In addition to social housing, electricity, Internet, airport and harbour services, water supply shortages, banking services and garbage collection were hot topics in the meeting chaired by State Commissioner Mike Franco and his deputy Mervyn Stegers. Those topics were raised by board members.
Windward Islands Bank is the only company providing banking services on the island. The bank’s poor record of maintaining its two ATM machines and the increase in ATM commission fee for individual withdrawals to US $7.50 for non-WIB debit cards was widely discussed in the meeting.
The garbage collection was also a point of concern. Members believe the fee, which works out at US $22 per month for an average household, is too steep. They called for the fee to be levied more fairly based on the household’s size.
