Lee says Government roof repair programme to launch ‘any day’

PHILIPSBURG–Social Affairs Minister Emil Lee said on Tuesday that Government’s roof repair programme is likely to be launched “any day” now.

His comments come in a reaction to statements made recently by United Democrats leader Theo Heyliger that too many residents are still without roofs and calling for speedier help for those who have applied to Government for assistance.

Lee said in his release that the delay in receiving funds from the Netherlands for budget support has delayed the roof repair project, noting also that the previous decision regarding the purchase of materials also had resulted in delays. He too believes that although getting the roof repair project going has been a top priority of Government, the pace has been too slow.

“Based on the hard work and commitment of Ministers [of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure VROMI Miklos – Ed.] Giterson and [Finance Michael – Ed.] Ferrier, I believe the roof repair programme will launch any day. Future funding challenges will determine the pace and number of homes to be repaired,” Lee said.
He said the Ministries of Finance and VROMI play a critical role in the execution of the roof repair project, as the Ministry of Finance is needed to ensure the budget is available to execute the project and the Ministry of VROMI has to coordinate the project, the purchase of materials and contracting of labour to execute the repairs.

“The Ministry of [Public Health, Social Development and Labour – Ed.] VSA, more than any other Ministry is continuously in direct contact with those most in need in our community and provides assistance based on its legal mandate and resources provided by the different departments … yet, post-Hurricanes Irma and Maria the most prevalent assistance required is home repair assistance, not even just roof repairs,” Lee said in the release.
He said the initial role of VSA within Government’s roof repair programme is to assist VROMI with the establishment of the criteria. “We have referred all persons who have registered for assistance at the Government Building during the months of September to November to VROMI for further assessment.

“As is customary, VSA will continue to be proactive in supporting Ministry partners and within its mandate, on the short term, relaunch their home repair programme, which is a programme that began in August 2017 with the goal to improve dwellings for our seniors.” The relaunch will help fast-track Government’s execution of the repair programmes in place and get persons the needed help in a shorter period of time.

Lee said he is concerned about the statement that persons are being denied assistance because they are on financial aid (“onderstand”) or because they receive a pension. “This seems quite unlikely, and I will ensure to look into the matter with Minister Giterson.”
To qualify for Government’s roof repair programme, the applicant has to be a documented resident of St. Maarten; has to produce proof of ownership of the damaged dwelling; has to produce proof that the damaged dwelling is his/her primary residence; the total annual income of the homeowner and his/her spouse should not exceed NAf. 48,000; and the applicant should not have received any repair assistance from other relief agencies and programmes.

Dwellings that are in a state in which roof repairs, with possibly minor additional window and door repairs, can restore the dwelling to a liveable state (as far as protection from the elements is concerned) will come into consideration for this programme. This criterion excludes dwellings that are beyond repair and have to be rebuilt entirely. The owner also should have no or insignificant insurance against hurricane damage to the home.
Lee said the established criteria mean that persons on pension or financial aid should not have an issue to qualify for assistance. “Ideally, there should be several Government repair programmes that each take a different approach to home repairs according to the person’s needs.”

He said also that the criteria mentioned should have been for phase 1, and phase 2 should have begun already, which would have broadened the criteria to include a different segment of the population that is in need.

“For example, the underinsured persons who did not receive much and are unable to repair their homes to a liveable situation, a rental repair programme to assist tenants and landlords with repairing the building so that more rented apartments could become available, families with income but that need assistance getting a soft loan with low interest rates, building vouchers for persons who can afford to pay contractors but require assistance with material, etc.”

He said that while the VSA Ministry shares the frustration about the pace of the reconstruction process and the roof repair project, its role in the roof repair project is limited to verification of documents and social assessments. The actual execution of the repairs falls under the Ministry of VROMI. Priority is given to the most vulnerable such as seniors, the disabled and single-headed households with children.

VSA has been working with VROMI and other organisations such as the Salvation Army, St. Maarten Development Fund, White and Yellow Cross CARE Foundation, Adventist Development and Relief Agency, United Nations Development Programme and the Red Cross, which are leading several rebuilding programmes to ensure that the most vulnerable are assisted.

Source: The Daily Herald https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/75103-lee-says-government-roof-repair-programme-to-launch-any-day