Philipsburg:--- Minister of VROMI William Marlin handed over an agreement letter that was signed by Angelo "Luciano" Gumbs on behalf of the Sucker Garden unemployed boys who will be contracted to clean several trenches in the area and from Philipsburg to Pointe Blanche. Minister Marlin told reporters on Tuesday that the project was spearheaded by Independent Member of Parliament Romaine Laville who vowed to secure employment for the youngsters of Sucker Garden where he (Laville) grew up.
Marlin said that the Ministry of VROMI took a different approach to make sure the unemployed youths of Sucker Garden get work, as a result there was no bidding for the project that was given to the Garden Boyz. The Minister of VROMI made clear that the work that will be carried out by at least 12 unemployed young men and women in the area will be supervised by Public Works, namely Claudius Buncamper. Present on Tuesday when the signing of the letter took place was the vice president of the Sucker Garden and Upper Princess Quarter Community Council Eugene Heyliger and Member of Parliament Romain Laville.
Marlin said as part of the governing program the National Alliance has with the Democratic Party and three Independent Members of Parliament, government will work with the people in the different communities as they try to establish groups within each community who would dedicate themselves to keep their community clean. This, he said was derived from the district improvement teams but government stumbled on several of the community councils that are not functioning.
Marlin said that when government awarded the contract for garbage collection it did not include the cleaning of trenches while the secondary roads are to be cleaned once every three months. Marlin said another hindrance in the various communities are the "boys on the block." Marlin explained that these boys are young St. Maarteners who simply cannot find work on the island and they are marginalized by the current system. The VROMI Minister said that even though there are contractors that are obtaining contracts from government they have refused to include the locals. "Often times the local St. Maarten boys are overlooked, they are bypassed while others are getting the opportunity to gain employment in their district."
Good move Min. Marlin. I applaud this project.
The boys were being forgotten and campaign promisses made to them were taking a back step.
I am also very proud of the boys who have been cleaning St. Peters for the past 2 years now. They are pleasant and truly feel proud of their jobs (hope S.G boys will show the same attitude). I also noticed several of them have been employed by MNO on the road projects and they always hail out to me with pride and I always flash a huge smile and hail back to them. Many of our boys are willing and able.
However, 2 things concerns me.
01. I have noticed a new breed accumulating on the blocks. This should be curbed before it gets out of hand/control again. From as early as 7 am they start to gather on the blocks. Why are they not in school, what is their issue.
02. What study was put into the financial feasibility of the Sucker Garden project. We keep hearing that X amount is being used to do this and that while other issues are pending to be resolved financially, f.i the teachers, the police, the senior citizens, the Government building etc. etc.. There is no information going out to the public of where all of these funds are being found while others cannot be resolved. Was it taken up in the budget? If not, how will it be paid for????
I am concerned about the tremendous amount of traveling and spending that has been going on since the change of Government. I would like these concerns to be put to rest. Please enlighten us as to where Govt. is finding the funds for all of these projects and travels, while the Min. of Finance is struggeling to balance the budget and many other financial issues are still unsolved.
However, I hope that the "boys on the blocks" project can/will continue and expand out to the other districts also. SXM is not ONLY Sucker Garden ... BUT it IS a "first" positive project by this Government.