BRUSSELS–Member of the European Parliament (MP) Agnes Jongerius of the Dutch Labour Party PvdA wants to know whether the reconstruction funds the European Union (EU) promised to St. Maarten after Hurricane Irma are indeed forthcoming. Or, as they say in St. Maarten: Where is the beef?
The recent urgent joint letter of St. Maarten Ombudsman Nilda Arduin and Dutch National Ombudsman Reinier van Zutphen was the main reason for Jongerius to submit written questions to the European Commission.
In their letter, which followed a visit of Van Zutphen to St. Maarten in June, He and Arduin concluded that the reconstruction process is going too slowly. They urged the governments on both sides of the ocean to speed up the reconstruction. This is also needed to protect the island’s residents from potential storms this season.
“Everyone is willing to contribute to the reconstruction, but I have also received signals that the recovery is progressing too slowly. It is not entirely clear whether the Dutch part of the island truly has access to the assistance that was promised by the EU,” said Jongerius.
European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker promised the European Parliament after Hurricane Irma devastated the island that there would be one approach for assistance regarding St. Maarten, an autonomous country in the Dutch Kingdom, and St. Martin, which is part of France. Juncker assured that the Dutch side would also receive (financial) assistance even though it does not directly resort under the EU like St. Martin does.
“I am not too convinced that the European assistance has reached the people on the island, considering the findings of Ombudsmen Arduin and Van Zutphen. It is high time to check whether President Juncker has kept his word,” stated Jongerius.
According to the MP, the urgency of a quick recovery has increased now that the hurricane season has started. “The most important thing is that the people of St. Maarten have a safe, secure accommodation.”
Jongerius has submitted three written questions, the maximum number allowed. “How much financial support has been granted to each of the French and Dutch sides of the island since the letter of President Juncker?” was her first question.
The other two questions were: “Can you indicate the reasons in case the Dutch side has not been able to make use of the EU funds? In what manner can the European Commission contribute to speeding up the reconstruction of the Dutch side?”
The Commission needs to respond to the questions within six weeks.
Shortly after the hurricane it became clear that Dutch St. Maarten, unlike French St. Martin, would not be able to make use of the EU’s Solidarity Fund because of its autonomous constitutional status. However, the European Commission stated at the time that the Dutch side would be able to make use of another EU fund for emergency, development and humanitarian aid.
European Parliament Chairman Antonio Tajani stated mid-September 2017 that St. Maarten should get financial support from the EU during the reconstruction period. Tajani urged Commission President Juncker to find a solution, which the latter promised to do so.
Source: The Daily Herald https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/78917-jongerius-where-is-the-beef-for-st-maarten
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