Philipsburg:--- Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of VROMI William Marlin gave an outline of some of the projects his Ministry is busy working on since he took office some six months ago. The Minister of VROMI did not divulge any information on the issue of the filling in of the salt pond to accommodate a race track and the stadium. Marlin said that he will be giving that information to the Members of Parliament on Monday.
Marlin said that the government of St. Maarten plans to take a loan from the Central Bank to build at least two tunnels which would alleviate the back-up of traffic in several areas of the island after the construction of the causeway. The VROMI Minister also explained that he is busy working on building all the links that are in the comprehensive road network plan which was approved by the former island council some 15 or 16 years ago. Marlin released this information on Sunday during a radio programme where he said he is also working on repairing the streetlights throughout the island.
The Minister of VROMI announced during the Council of Ministers' weekly press briefing that shortly there will be some 18 homes in the Belvedere area for sale. Marlin said the homes were constructed by the St. Maarten Housing Development Foundation (SHDF) and they are nearing completion. "Right now the SHDF is busy screening potential buyers and he is of the opinion that by the end of the year there will be 18 new homeowners. Marlin said he signed off on the building permits for another six homes which will be constructed in the Ebenezer area through the SHDF, the additional homes are part of the sales package that SHDF embarked on. Marlin said the profit that is generated from the sales of these homes will then be invested in the construction of homes for the elderly and those that cannot afford to pay the full and regular rent because of their social circumstances and income. Marlin said the intention of government is to provide homes for the elderly for Naf. 50.00 per month. Marlin said he also signed off on the FOGA project which is in the vicinity of the Melford Hazel Sports Auditorium. Marlin said when the area is fully upgraded the SHDF will begin construction of another 32 homes in the area. These homes would be made available to young professionals such as the BAVPOLERS and other persons that joined the police force. Another project the Minister said he approved is the construction of 99 vaults in the Cul de Sac Cemetery which will also be upgraded. The Minister said that plans are in place to upgrade the cemetery by building paved roads that would take people to where the vaults are built.
