DG Mobility concludes Statia visit

Director General for Mobility within the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management  (I&W), Mr. Mark Frequin, has concluded a 2-day visit to St. Eustatius on Thursday March 1st, 2018. Frequin and delegation comprising advisors from the Ministries of the Interior and Kingdom Relations (BZK) and the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management are on a working to the Caribbean Netherlands representing the Steering Group Caribbean Netherlands (Stuurgroep CN).

DG Mobility concludes Statia visit
Photo L to R: Patricia Grolle (liaison Ministry I&W in CN), Jenny Thunnissen (senior Advisor BZK), Mark Frequin (DG Mobility, Ministry I&W), Mike Franco (Central Government Commissioner), Mervyn Stegers (act. Central Government Commissioner), Marjan van Giezen (act. DG Water and Soil, Ministry I&W). Back row: Sebe Buitenkamp (act. DG Environment, Ministry I&W), Rintje Oenema (senior policy advisor, Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations).

During his visit to St. Eustatius he visited several infrastructural and environmental related projects such as the central dumpsite recycle plant, harbour, Fort Oranje and Bay Path cliff protection project, homes under reconstruction following hurricanes Irma and Maria. Meetings were held further with management of Nustar, St. Eustatius Utilities Company (STUCO) and the RCN Unit of Social Affairs & Employment (SZW). A tour was made of the cliff area nearby the FDR Airport runway, which has suffered serious effects of erosion.

A meeting was also held with Mike Franco en Mervyn Stegers, respectively the Central Government Commissioner and Acting Central Government Commissioner, to discuss projects related to rebuilding the island as well as pending projects. Frequin has informed both Franco and Stegers that the Central Government is offering technical support needed to assist St. Eustatius.

“St. Eustatius is in a recovery stage. We noticed a number of infrastructural and environmental projects are important for the future development of the island. We are working closely together to achieve these goals”, says Frequin.  Upon his return to The Netherlands next week, the Director General of Mobility will share his findings with his colleagues in the Steering Group Caribbean Netherlands. This is a group of high ranking civil servants within the various ministries of the Central Group that confers on a regular basis for exchange on projects and investments on Saba, St. Eustatius and Bonaire to ensure that there is structured and coordinated approach.

Frequin continues his working visit with Bonaire as his final stop where he will hold talk with relevant stakeholders as well as the Public Entity of Bonaire.