The World Bank announced in a press release on Thursday that the first grant of US $55 million from the St. Maarten Recovery, Reconstruction and Resilience Trust Fund will be released. Is that hopeful news after many months?
Do you agree that it has taken a long time before this first grant became available? There is a large gap between the period of emergency assistance and this first substantial contribution. People in St. Maarten feel that it has been a long time.
Some say that the delay was due to the structure of the World Bank, a large and sluggish organisation and the fact that the St. Maarten Programme Bureau was not fully established. Can you confirm that?
How many persons are we talking about? A handful, a dozen?
That request has to come from St. Maarten?
Some people in St. Maarten say that the Netherlands is taking over. Others expect more help from the Netherlands. What is your response to that?
The Dutch National Police is still at work in St. Maarten, to the delight of many on the island. Their assistance is slated to cease within short. Is there a possibility that the officers will stay?
https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/78585-knops-positive-about-progress-reconstruction
