SIMPSON BAY:--- The Prime Minister of St. Maarten the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams, as Minister of General Affairs in Charge of the Fire Department, affixed her signature to a Memorandum of Understanding with the Princess Juliana International Airport on the establishment of a Fire and Ambulance Department substation jointly with the PJIAE Fire Department at a signing ceremony at the Fire Department Headquarters on Thursday. The Prime Minister, who signed the document together with the Managing Director of the Airport Ms. Regina Labega, said it was indeed a special moment to start the placement of Fire and Emergency Service for the Cole Bay Simpson Bay area:
"It is a pleasure to be able to affix my signature to an agreement that has been long in making. Many things have been done over the last year with many discussions having taken place regarding the steps that were necessary for this project to come to fruition. This goes to show that notwithstanding the fact that the PJIAE is a Government Owned company we needed to take all of the technicalities and legal issues in consideration before inking an agreement. At the end of the day we believe we have an understanding that is beneficial to all parties so that the airport can proceed with its plans for a Fixed Base Operation while the Fire Department is also now a step closer to being able to operate 'over the hill' as we like to call it. Being able to house with the PJIAE Fire Department gives us the opportunity to be located in the Cole Bay Simpson Bay area which is very important for the operational capability of the Fire Department," commented Prime Minister Wescot-Williams.
From the Cabinet of the Prime Minister