Philipsburg:--- Deputy Prime Minister who is also the Minister of VROMI William Marlin made some clarifications regarding the verbal stop order he issued on the filling of more sand at the FOGA pond for the construction of the Ring Road. Marlin said in November 2012 he approved the filling of more sand in the area of the FOGA pond for two reasons. Marlin said those reasons are the ring road alignment needs more sand for its completion also for the eastern section of the FOGA pond which is the back the Melford Hazel Sports Auditorium where the emergency homes are located. Marlin said the intention is for the St. Maarten Housing Development Foundation (SHDF) to begin construction of 32 homes in that area. The VROMI Minister said SHDF already mounted a sign in the area launching the construction of the additional homes. Marlin made clear that the intention is not to fill the pond but they intend to raise the elevation where the homes are to be constructed.
Marlin said that he received a phone call from the head of New Projects Kurt Ruan when he was off island informing him that he will be moving the sand from the harbor to the FOGA on that day. He said because there was a difference of opinion between the director of SHDF and Ruan, he told Ruan not to move any sand until he gets back to St. Maarten where they will further discuss the matter. "When I told the SHDF director that they were going to move the sand to the FOGA pond, Lynch told him not to place the sand in the area now because it would create a problem with the construction of the 32 homes." Marlin said that was the only reason he told Kurt Ruan to wait until he gets back to St. Maarten so that a proper solution could have been found. Marlin said the discussion took place and a decision has been taken on moving the sand from the harbor to the FOGA pond.
Marlin said that the intention is to raise the elevation where the homes will be built so that the new homes will be at a higher elevation than the existing homes.
Marlin further explained that the department of VROMI is also working on upgrading the trenches in the area starting from where former commissioner Patricia Flanders is living. He said the project went on bid and four contractors submitted their bids but the lowest bid was submitted by Millennium PRO and the department of New Projects is in discussion with them on the upgrading of the trenches in that area. Marlin said as soon as the budget of 2013 is approved and government has access to the capital of the budget then this project will kick off. This project involves the upgrading of the trenches, the construction of a new road, drainage on both sides where the homes are to be built, also drainage in the back of the existing emergency homes.
Another project the VROMI Minister said will soon start is the construction of 38 boundary walls in Middle Region. Marlin said when the upgrading of the Middle Region road took place some walls were removed for the construction and government recently put that project on bid and the lowest bidder was Designers Choice. He said that government had an agreement with 38 home owners who agreed to move their boundary for the construction of the road and sidewalks and the agreement was government will build a new boundary wall. He said very shortly the construction of the walls will take place on the West side of Middle Region heading to the Tamarind tree.
The Deputy Prime Minister said that this Friday a bid will be launched for the final upgrade of the Dutch Quarter main road. The VROMI Minister said when he took office last year he did some emergency paving which was temporary work on the Dutch Quarter main road to grant the residents of that area some relief.
The final upgrading he said is expected to start in the month of June when the school vacation starts and it is expected to last at least five months. The final surfacing of the Dutch Quarter main road will consist of a main sewage line, the construction of side-walks, modern day street lighting along with street and landscaping. Marlin said secondary sewage lines will also be placed in the inner roads which would give home owners the opportunity to hook up their sewage which would then lead to the main sewage line. Marlin said when the project is completed the running sewage water in Dutch Quarter will come to an end. Marlin further explained that the designs for link two are being worked on. This link will be from Zagersgut road to L.B. Scot Road next to the Cake House supermarket. He said shortly the construction of that link will also go on bid. Marlin said his Ministry is also working on the design of link six which will start in French Quarter and end by the St. Dominic School in South Reward.
Marlin said now that the budget is almost finalized, government can begin floating the bonds for the capital side of the budget to execute the projects that were in the pipeline.