Yesterday was touted as a "big day" for utilities company GEBE and so it was. The inauguration of its new power plant and of its two new air-cooled 11.3-megawatt generators was indeed a proud moment for the company, its management and its workers. All St. Maarten should share in their joy, as indeed we do.
Our hope is that as the several players and stakeholders continue to bask in the glory of their achievement, they remember the potent messages of Lt. Governor Franklyn Richards and Commissioner in charge of Energy Affairs Theo Heyliger during yesterday's celebrations.
The Lt. Governor struck one of the important nails bang on the head when he stressed that there was need for open lines of communication between the Island Government and GEBE. No doubt he had in mind the need to avoid undesirable situations such as was witnessed a few months ago when, in the midst of frequent power outages, corporate turmoil and consumer frustration, Heyliger literally threw his hands in the air and complained in despair that he too was not aware of what was happening at GEBE.
Also, we were impressed that both the Lt. Governor and Heyliger finally addressed an issue that was bound to be brought into the open eventually, but which no one seemed willing to address publicly – that of "the division of shares of GEBE" taking into account the dismantling of the Netherlands Antilles generally, but more specifically the fact that while St. Maarten soon will be a separate country within the Dutch Kingdom, Saba and Statia, both of which are stakeholders in GEBE, will also be heading their separate ways as "public entities" of the Netherlands.
Heyliger was very direct when he said "St. Maarten cannot continue to subsidise Saba and Statia in the new BES structure" and that a letter to this effect would be sent to BES commissioner Henk Kamp next week. It is, regrettably, an issue which, thanks to the role of one stakeholder in particular, was never adequately addressed when, as a compromise, the current ownership and management structures were put in place.
Given the seemingly imminent final dismantling of the Netherlands Antilles, now seems to be as good a time as any to pursue this matter aggressively and resolutely.
GEBE would do well to rise to the other challenges thrown out to it yesterday by Commissioner Heyliger – including the challenge to set up a scholarship fund or programme so that some of the island's best and brightest can pursue studies in Engineering.
In retrospect, it is singularly amazing that for a company of GEBE's size, power, influence, resources and needs, not much has been heard about its contribution, if any, to scholarship in St. Maarten.
Heyliger also spoke of the need for GEBE's Managing Director William Brooks and Supervisory Board of Directors Chairman Julius Lambert to forge a strong "marriage," for a new tariff structure, and for a stable fuel clause, and he challenged the company to improve its public image, make its premises more environmentally appealing, establish a fuel farm, and invest in renewable energy, among other things.
We endorse these commonsense recommendations and challenges, the acceptance of which we believe will ensure that while yesterday was a big day for GEBE, the days ahead will be bigger, better and brighter for all St. Maarten.
