SXMElections.com

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - Independent Member of Parliament Maurice Lake says he foresees GEBE playing a vital role in renewable energy in St. Maarten. â€œBased on the Coalition of Eight’s Governing Program, we will be continuing with where the Steering Committee within Government left off with the Waste to Energy Plant discussions and review the latest draft agreement,” he said. Government is continuous and the previous Government should never have attempted changing plans which was in the best interest of the people.  Based on the upcoming Shareholder’s meeting on December 15th, GEBE Management and Supervisory Board will inform the Council of Ministers about its current state of affairs.  The Minister of VROMI, who is Shareholder representative of GEBE, needs to put as an agenda point the historical and current status of renewable energy.  We need to work towards the future by starting investments into renewable energy and alternative sources of energy through LPG/ LNG, also by promoting solar energy to the community in addition to having the necessary policies in place, pointed out Lake.
 
“Those who have invested in solar energy production in our community should be commended for taking the initiative on their own.  All stakeholders, GEBE and Government, need to put in place what is necessary for local solar energy producers to receive back what they contribute on a daily basis based on their solar energy investment and contribution to the electricity grid.  GEBE needs to adjust their meters to accommodate solar energy to residential homes. We need to promote more private public partnerships in our community related to small and large scale solar energy productions.
 
“Better incentives need to be offered, and we need to continue to provide a recycling awareness campaign for residents and making the old GEBE generator at the Cape Bay Power Plant more environmentally friendly thereby limiting the impact on the community of Cape Bay.
 
“The time for planning during the past 11-months is over from since I was the former Minister, it is high time for the Board of GEBE and Management and the Investment Committee to start executing their investment plan of action by reducing the cost of living for the people of St. Maarten. St. Maarten should be the front runner ahead of Aruba and Curacao when it comes to renewable energy, and now St. Maarten must pick up the pace related to small and large scale solar energy policies.
 
“As part of the Coalition of Eight’s governing program, I want to see GEBE get back to basics by starting to execute their investment plan of action which is on the GEBE budget for many years for the people by carrying out some quick win projects in the community such as finalizing the water tanks projects, especially in Weymouth Hill, Guavaberry Hill in the St. Peters/Marigot hill area and Cole Bay. 
 
“Purchasing of transformer house land to build more transformer houses in strategic areas, and a branch office in the St. Johns area for the residents of the Cul de Sac Basin, should be high priority and quick wins.  We need to continue to provide and upgrade services for the seniors by changing their lights to LED bulb lights.  This needs to be turned into a pilot project for senior citizens. GEBE needs to work closely with Government to provide them with how many registered senior citizens we have on the island and update their addresses to make this pilot project a success.”
 
Lake wants to see SZV assist the senior citizens with supplement vitamins and executing their preventative maintenance plan to start educating the general public about starting a personal retirement plan.
 
“Upgrading of street lights in the different districts by making the community much safer is a necessity, especially in the Fort Willem area to prevent crimes, and branch offices to better serve the residents in strategic locations in the Cul de Sac Basin in St. Johns and Belvedere area. 

“GEBE also has to start providing fibre optic cables to residential homes.  This will provide work for small contractors and a technological advancement for GEBE. Further what is important is to trim the branches from GEBE lines of overgrown bush which is a necessary safety measure particularly during the hurricane season, and these and other required work will create much needed employment for the people.
 
“GEBE needs to start restructuring the company to take St. Maarten into the next century. The planned waste to energy facility is recognized as being urgent leading to the effective need of tackling the island's growing garbage problem. 
 
“I had achieved the 100% buy back of GEBE shares, signed the street light management agreement to fix street lights, Energy Policy, Seniors Relief Program which I find is a good idea by the Prime Minister William Marlin to make it permanent for the seniors and the proposed general electricity across the board, but it is high time we pragmatically improve on all in order to better serve the community,” MP Maurice Lake concluded.

Maurice Lake mentioned 2 times
William Marlin mentioned 1 time