PHILLIPSBURG: --- The ongoing struggle to maintain cleanliness on St. Maarten’s streets and boardwalks has come into sharp focus, with government officials acknowledging systemic failures in waste collection and outlining plans for stricter enforcement.
On Wednesday, the Minister of VROMI responded to questions regarding the state of sanitation on the island. The Minister responsible for infrastructure and waste management highlighted a complex web of challenges ranging from unqualified contractors to public non-compliance with disposal rules.
"I think one of the biggest challenges we've had with garbage overall is that a number of the people who have been awarded garbage contracts were not qualified," the Minister stated, referencing public findings from the Ombudsman’s reports. This capacity shortage among haulers has led to inconsistent collection schedules over the past year, resulting in unsightly pile-ups in public areas.
While the island offers daily garbage collection free of charge, the Minister noted that this service is rare globally and that the system is strained. Residents often ignore the waste ordinance, particularly concerning "white material" such as refrigerators and stoves. These large items are meant for specific collection days but are frequently dumped at random, creating hazards and eyesores.
The "Ghost" Bins of the Boardwalk
Specific concerns were raised about the Phillipsburg boardwalk, where citizens have noted inconsistent cleanliness. Despite new waste bins already being on the island, they have not yet been deployed.
The delay, officials explained, stems from a bureaucratic gap: the new bins were not included in the current service tender.
"We had to wait until we could have a way to pay for the servicing of those bins," the Minister explained. "There’s a number of concrete slabs on the boardwalk which should have had bins and never did."
Discussions are now finalizing the locations and maintenance plans for these bins, which are expected to be included in the upcoming garbage tender.
Commercial Waste and the Phillipsburg Problem
Phillipsburg faces unique challenges as the only area where the government allows commercial waste collection. Shop owners are required to put out waste between 6:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m., but hauler delays often mean garbage sits out overnight, vulnerable to wind and rain.
"If they don't come before wind or rain, that garbage ends up on the boardwalk on the road," the Minister noted. The government is now reviewing the tender process to better "bridge the gap" and ensure the commercial hub remains presentable.
Smarter Enforcement and New Legislation
Perhaps the most significant hurdle is the lack of legal teeth to punish littering. Currently, the Ministry lacks the mechanism to issue fines directly. Any fine must be processed through the Public Prosecutor as a criminal offense, a route often clogged by higher-priority cases.
To combat this, a revision of the waste ordinance is underway. This update aims to introduce administrative enforcement, allowing officials to issue fines more easily without burdening the criminal justice system.
Furthermore, the government is looking to technology to solve its manpower shortage. The Department of Inspection plans to utilize drone technology to monitor illegal dumping and collection routes.
"It's about working smart and not hard," the Minister said, emphasizing that physical patrols of every street are impossible due to budget constraints. "You do a flyover every so often, and you get the data that you need."
As the current garbage tender nears its end, residents and business owners alike are looking to these new measures to restore consistency and cleanliness to the island’s streets.
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