State Secretary of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations Raymond Knops (left) inspecting the unpaved roads in Cherry Tree in September 2018.
EUSTATIUS–The contracts for the long-awaited road project in St. Eustatius were signed Monday. Deputy Government Commissioner Mervyn Stegers signed the contract on behalf of the St. Eustatius government and contractors Hilda Doek signed on behalf of Koop Caribbean Joint Venture and Ronald Courtar on behalf of Alvin R. Ricardo Courtar Construction. With the start of the road project, the focus moves from housing to road improvement.
The two contractors were awarded the contract to execute the Cherry Tree Road Project, which is being executed first due to the fact there are fewer obstacles here than there are in the much-desired Mansionweg road project, where the government has to purchase land from landowners to widen the roads and install a drainage system, among other issues.
Koop Caribbean is a joint venture between Koop International BV and construction company Alvin R. Ricardo Courtar Construction NV, which is one of the largest companies in this sector. Courtar Construction has a lot of experience in this field of work. Koop International BV is a Dutch branch of Koop Holding Company with much experience in the Middle East.
The road project is part of the 2017-2019 reconstruction programme for Statia in close cooperation with the Directorate of Economy and Infrastructure (E&I). The main part of the project is funded by the reconstruction funds received after the passing of Hurricanes Irma and Maria in September 2017.
Cherry Tree was chosen as it is one of the fastest developing residential areas of the island. The roads are in very poor condition which makes it unsafe to be used during heavy rain as some roads have deep gullies. The dust from the unpaved roads in this are also creates a health hazard for residents and visitors and the roads pose a challenge to emergency services.
The project will cover an area of approximately 1.2 kilometres, which will include Erick R. Gibbs Road, William Plantz Road, Olive V. Patrick Road, George F. Cruger Road, and part of Schroophard Road.
The project will include underground cabling, partially funded by the 11th European Development Fund, as well as paved sidewalks, streetlights and a much-needed drainage system.
Interim Director of E&I Anthony Reid said the Public Entity of Statia supports an integral approach. Therefore, provisions for rainwater drainage and the eventual catchment will be put in place to mitigate further erosion.
The project is supported by St. Eustatius Utility Company STUCO, telecommunication company EUTEL and St. Eustatius Centre for Archaeological Research SECAR.
A town hall meeting about the entire Road Network Programme, of which the paving of the five Cherry Tree roads is a pilot project, is scheduled for Thursday, December 13.
The Ministries of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations and of Infrastructure and Water Management are financing this project. The road project was originally part of the multi-annual plan signed in February 2016 between then Minister of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations Ronald Plasterk and former Commissioner Reginald Zaandam, under which six million euros were designated for Statia’s roads.
Source: The Daily Herald https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/83049-contract-for-long-awaited-statia-road-project-signed
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