PHILIPSBURG:--- Residents on the Dutch side of the island are called to conserve water as there is a water shortage island wide. SMN News reported last week that GEBE management has been hindering progress at GEBE.
Last year October, the Dutch side was negotiating with the French side to provide them with water in order for the French side to shut down part of its water plant for repairs. Sources within the company told SMN News that the connection was never done because management of GEBE was dragging their feet. "Today, the Dutch side is negotiating with the French side to provide the Dutch side with water which they would have to buy with Euros." A source at GEBE said that the French does not have sufficient water for themselves because the Dutch side never made the connection for the French side to upgrade and repair their water plant.
SMN News further learnt that AIRFIN, the company that has been supplying water to GEBE, has been pleading with GEBE to get its act together and to do what is necessary for the water plant in Pointe Blanche to become operational. SMN News learnt that GEBE has to install a pump house and a transformer for the water plant in Pointe Blanche to function but that was never done.
Residents of the island began seeing water shortage over the weekend and instead of preparing the people of St. Maarten for the water crisis they are about to face, the COO of GEBE Romellio Maduru jumped on a plane and left the island.
Maduru and his management staff posted a letter on their Facebook page blaming AIRFIN for the current water shortage. SMN News will bring you a full report on AIRFIN, their water production, and the cause of the water shortage in a subsequent report.
