Parliamentarians sound off
about GEBE, fuel shortage
WILLEMSTAD--Fuel supplier SOL, utilities company GEBE and government need to be held accountable for the prolonged power outages endured by St. Maarten residents since Friday due to fuel shortage, say Parliamentarians Erno Labega and Frans Richardson.
Expressing disbelief that GEBE had no contingency plan in place to deal with a fuel crisis like this one, Labega (Democratic Party) said that as soon as possible interruptions to the fuel supply had been ascertained, arrangements should have been made by GEBE to ensure a continuous supply of electricity to the island.
“Instead of waiting for the last minute, it was management’s responsibility to know what was available and make other arrangements,” Labega said, adding that the supervisory board should take this incident as the catalyst to make sure mechanisms are in place to avoid a recurrence.
GEBE was aware that a fuel shortage that would lead to load-shedding was looming, but chose not to inform the public in a more timely fashion, the parliamentarian, who is in Curaçao, said after learning about the situation at home.
National Alliance parliamentarian Richardson said, “It is unbelievable that one day into the official high tourist and megayacht season the island would be plunged into darkness because of a fuel shortage.”
SOL should have had GEBE as a priority to deliver fuel to because this supply meant that the island’s residents and visitors would not have had to be without electricity periodically over the weekend and for most of Tuesday, Richardson said. “This is simply disrespect to the island by the supplier. However, it is still GEBE’s responsibility to have a backup in place. There should be one at all times.”
GEBE’s supervisory board of directors and government should have had the necessary information to inform the island about the pending shortage as far in advance as possible, he added. “They must know when supplies are about to run low and take measures to take care of the island. For something like this, you simply can’t wait until the 24th hour to act.”
