Before the onslaught of the COVID-19 pandemic, many Caribbean countries were still rebuilding and recovering from the devastating impacts of hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017. In the case of Sint Maarten, those hurricanes caused widespread damage to many homes, buildings, and infrastructure, amounting to US$1.38 billion or roughly 260% of its GDP.
With the help of the Sint Maarten Recovery, Reconstruction and Resilience Trust Fund – funded by the Netherlands in 2018 with a budget of up to 470 million euros and managed by the World Bank – the country had started the long, complex process of rebuilding, before the COVID-19-related lockdown and border closures brought things to a temporary halt.
As the “anchor project” under the Trust Fund, the Emergency Recovery Project I (ERP-I) supports the reconstruction of private residences, critical infrastructure, public buildings such as schools, and the building of resilience in key areas. The bulk of the activities under the Trust Fund, and likewise, the ERP-I, are managed by the National Recovery Program Bureau (NRPB), the in-country implementation unit that has spurred significant, measurable recovery progress despite the delays caused this year by the pandemic.
This includes:
- Residential home repairs: 39 single-family homes have been expertly repaired. 146 more homes will be repaired. 20 of these 146 homes are set to be completed by 2020.
- Repairs and retroactive financing: 109 social housing units of the Sint Maarten Housing Development Foundation (SMHDF) were repaired, and retroactive financing of about US$500,000 was provided for the repairs of 160 units carried out by the SMHDF itself.
- Police station repairs and emergency equipment: Roof repairs to two police stations have been completed; and hurricane-resistant windows, doors, and shutters have been installed. The Fire Department is now equipped with fire helmets, fire suits, safety shoes, breathing apparati, satellite phone, and communication equipment. To improve first responders’ capacity, the NRPB has ordered two fire trucks, diesel water pumps for fire suppression, and isolation boxes for ambulances.
- Shelter repairs: Repairs to Sint Maarten’s four priority shelters were completed by the NRPB in August 2020 and now feature more hurricane-resilient exteriors, water systems, backup power, sanitation supplies, and meet all-access standards. Repairs to the remaining shelters are expected to be completed by January 2021.
- School repairs: To minimize disruption and ensure teacher, staff, and student safety, the NRPB developed a streamlined procurement approach, repairing a few of the 20 schools in need of repairs on a rotating basis. It is expected that repairs to three priority schools will be completed by January 2021, with minimal interruption in student learning.
- Development of risk financing tools: To bolster the country’s ability to financially respond to the impacts of natural hazards, the project secured four years of insurance coverage to protect against hurricanes, excessive rainfall, and earthquakes through the Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility Segregated Portfolio Company (CCRIF SPC).
Although a country-wide lockdown, mandated from April 6 to May 11 as a necessary measure to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, interrupted repairs to private homes, government buildings, and shelters, and hindered engineering firms and technical consultants from travelling to Sint Maarten to conduct supervisory and other work, projects swiftly resumed in June, just after the country reopened its borders in mid-May.
The lessons learned and positive momentum generated by ERP-I’s achievements continue to fuel recovery efforts in the country. Valuable insights gained from conducting procurement activities in Sint Maarten’s small market, engaging with beneficiaries and contractors, and the sequencing of contracting and technical work, have helped identify challenges and improve the implementation of this project, as well as other projects financed by the Sint Maarten Trust Fund.
Some challenges related to the new nature of Sint Maarten’s engagement with international organizations like the World Bank are beginning to be addressed. Among them, measures are being supported by the Government of Sint Maarten to facilitate the processing of work visas, residence permits, and business licenses.
Successful resolution of these challenges will complete the groundwork laid by the NRPB and World Bank project teams for completion of critical activities remaining under the project. These include a big batch of residential home repairs, shelter and school repairs, and trenching programs to move utilities underground, among others, to help strengthen Sint Maarten’s resilience to future disasters.
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