POND ISLAND--The Ministry of Environment and Infrastructure VROMI hosted a waste forum on May 31, moderated by Jan Beaujon. The forum, themed “No time to waste,” was held in at the Government Administrative Building.
VROMI Minister Miklos Giterson welcomed attendees and encouraged their participation in the pressing matter to solve the “smoking monster,” which has long haunted the progress of the country.
The forum included presentations and discussions with the aim of sharing information, gaining insight from stakeholders and potentially reaching a consensus on the way forward in waste management on Sint Maarten. To start the forum and encourage informed discussions, five presentations were held by speakers, who are involved in various aspects of the issue of waste management.
The first presentation, delivered by the head of the Department of Infrastructure Management Claudius Buncamper, focused on the existing situation with a bird’s eye view on physical and financial challenges.
John Morton of the World Bank provided insight into the planned debris removal projects post Hurricane Irma. This included the ‘second Irma landfill’ and further removal of the boat wrecks in Simpson Bay Lagoon.
The Prosecutor’s Office contributed to the forum with a presentation by Jeroen Steenbrink and Jeroen Kuipers that raised awareness around their legal concerns surrounding the landfill.
Roel van de Loo of SPPS consultants, who was contracted by the Infrastructure and Water Ministry of the Netherlands, conducted a quick scan on the waste issues on St. Maarten, including Saba and Statia.
He displayed various scenarios on the methods of approach for tackling the waste problems on Sint Maarten. Finally, Candia Joseph, Country Manager for the Government Accountancy Bureau SOAB gave a presentation on the possibilities of establishing a Waste Authority for St. Maarten.
The second part of the forum was a question-and-answer segment and deliberations on the immediate and long-term needs to alleviate current waste challenges and best practices for future waste management.
Various entities contributed their expertise from their respective fields, which included input from St. Maarten Hospitality and Tourism Association (SHTA), GEBE, Police, Environmental Protection in the Caribbean (EPIC), Social Economic Council, the World Bank and Ministries Public Health, Justice, and General Affairs, as well as delegates from the Representation of the Netherlands on St. Maarten.
Clear consensus was drawn on identifying a new narrative for the approach towards waste, recycling and establishing legislation that could encourage reduction and a change in general behaviour. The improved management of current landfill is also regarded as a top priority. The forum sparked necessary action from all participants, which will result in a follow-up meeting to further discuss issues pertaining to the strategic and long-term management of waste.
