~Collectivity to repair 280 homes plus schools~
MARIGOT:--- The Vice President responsible for Education and Social Affairs Anniek Petrus said that the department of Social Affairs continues to distribute food items 10 months after hurricane Irma.
Petrus said that immediately after the passing of the hurricane Irma Collectivity workers along with persons from the community distributed food items to all those persons they could reach throughout the French side of the island. That distribution she said lasted for two months after which persons that were in need or not working were asked to register at the department of Social Affairs, those persons that registered were all given food and clothing. Special attention was given to the disabled and elderly.
Petrus said that her department then began recruiting Associations on the French side in order for them to distribute food items in their area. She said that everything was done to ensure that every household benefit from the food distribution but she is certain that even though the distribution is widespread some people still did not receive anything because they probably did not make themselves available or could not be easily reached.
Petrus who is holding two very heavy portfolios said that at the moment there is not a lot of food items remaining as the influx of containers have reduced but whatever is received will be distributed.
She said that government still has a large amount of drinking water which is still being distributed to each household, the intention she said is to ensure every household gets five six packs of water every two weeks during the hurricane season.
Petrus said that St. Martin received lots of food stuff and clothing from France, Guadeloupe and Martinique while they also received cash monies from the Fonds Sociale Europeen (FSE) which was placed in an account controlled by the Collectivity.
The money that was received from the FSE will be used to repair at least 280 homes which will kick off this month. The intention is to provide materials to some families that have the means to repair their homes while the Collectivity selected two Associations in every Quartier to repair homes of the elderly and disabled. Single mothers that have young children will also get their homes repaired by the persons that were selected to do the repairs.
As for schools most of which were damaged will also be repaired however, the Collectivity has to find the money to conduct the repairs and then reclaim that which was spent from the State. One of the challenges the local government is having she said is to find land as some schools will not be rebuilt in certain areas that were identified as the “Red Zone”. One such area is Cul de Sac that had a primary school and the Soualiga College. Soualiga College she said will be constructed in close proximity of Robert Weinum Lycee.
