Repairs to the bridges in Suckergarden are carried out and paid for entirely by the developer
PHILIPSBURG, SINT MAARTEN – The Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure (VROMI), Mr. Patrice Gumbs, is highlighting the value of Private-Public Partnerships (PPPs) in addressing the financial limitations facing Government, particularly when it comes to critical infrastructure.
Financial resources within the Government are limited, and this is felt strongly at the Ministry of VROMI. While all Ministries are finding ways to fill these shortfalls, the Minister sees PPPs as a valuable tool to close the gap.
The Minister clarified how current PPPs are funded. The government has put funding into one of these partnerships; the Billy Folly Road upgrades. The other two PPPs, the rehabilitation of Simpsonbay Dock and the repairs to the Rolandus Canal and the bridges in Suckergarden are carried out and paid for entirely by the developer.
PPPs are a company’s way of contributing to the country in which it operates and from which it benefits. While some investments may directly benefit the developer’s project, the aim of PPPs is also to have developers look beyond the footprint of their project to the wider Sint Maarten community. This is why the latest PPP focuses on Suckergarden, allowing communities outside of traditional major investment areas such as Simpsonbay and Cupecoy to be directly touched by all the investments happening on the island. The developer funds and carries out the work related to the project, while the Government’s role is to approve the design and provide project support and oversight where needed.
“While the Ministry continues to work on revenue generation, the Minister once again acknowledged and thanked the private sector for their continued support and willingness to help in collectively improving the quality of life for all”, Gumbs stated.
