PHILIPSBURG:--- VROMI Minister Patrice Gumbs Jr. has confirmed that an inspection into excavation works at Indigo Bay identified deviations from the approved permitting requirements, but no stop order was announced during Wednesday’s Council of Ministers press briefing.
The disclosure came after a reporter raised residents’ concerns about alleged over-excavation and continuing damage to neighboring homes.
Gumbs said the Inspection Department visited the location and compared the works with designs submitted to the Permits Department.
“We have identified that there have been some issues,” he said, explaining that certain areas did not fully follow the permitting process.
The ministry is preparing a letter to the responsible party, outlining the next steps. However, Gumbs could not provide its precise status.
“I’m not sure exactly where the letter is currently. It’s being drafted by the Ministry,” he said.
Asked whether work should be paused while the situation is addressed, Gumbs identified several options, including meetings with the parties involved and affected residents, as well as a possible stop order.
He said those options would come to him for a decision shortly.
The response leaves unresolved when formal action will be taken and whether excavation will be halted in the meantime.
Gumbs also said that once the government establishes what occurred, the party that caused it is responsible for repairing damage to neighboring properties and the surrounding environment.
The briefing did not establish the extent of the reported damage, identify the responsible party or provide a deadline for corrective works.
For affected homeowners, the immediate issue remains whether the ministry’s findings will translate into measures that prevent further damage while responsibility and repairs are addressed.
