Employees of St. Eustatius Utility Company STUCO connecting cables at the solar park.
ST. EUSTATIUS--Commissioner of Energy and Water Distribution Derrick Simmons signed an agreement with the eleventh European Development Fund (EDF) to receive two million euros in funding for underground cabling.
Commissioner Simmons, Director of Economy and Infrastructure Roy Hooker and advisor Siem Dijkshoorn had travelled to Aruba at the end of February to attend the annual forum of the European Union’s (EU’s) Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) in the Caribbean.
Simmons said the project document was signed with regard to the 11th EDF in support of the energy sector’s budget on the island. The funds will be used to place high-tension cables underground.
During the meeting the progress of the project for the economic development of the harbour of St. Eustatius, which is still in preparation, was also discussed. This project is financed by the 10th EDF.
The present treaties and policies between the OCTs and the EU will expire in 2020, after which the relationship between the EU and the OCTs may have to be redefined.
Out of the 29 EU member states, only four will have relationships with OCTs after 2020. After Brexit, only three EU countries will have relationships with overseas countries and territories, being France, Denmark and the Netherlands.
