Statia Day fireworks display causes blaze
© Copyright: The Daily Herald, 20 November 2023
ST. EUSTATIUS
A fireworks display at Fort Oranje late Thursday night to mark the end of Statia Day resulted in a fire that burned part of the safety mesh on the cliff overlooking Gallows Bay. There were no reports of injuries.
Emergency services received a call around midnight that a fire had started near St. Eustatius’ Fort Oranje. At the site, a safety mesh has been placed on the cliff to prevent erosion and rockfalls. This is part of the government’s Cliff Protection Project.
When emergency services arrived at the scene, they discovered that part of the safety mesh was on fire and it looked like the blaze could spread.
The Caribbean Netherlands Fire Department had some difficulty fighting the fire on the cliffside and off-duty firefighters were put on standby. However, after what has been described as a “hard-fought battle,” the firefighters got the blaze under control. They finally extinguished the fire by attacking it from the top of the cliff.
Images circulating on social media had seemed to show that the entire cliff had caught on fire. However, those images turned out to be misleading; the trail of fire that was depicted was actually pieces of mesh falling down the half-exposed cliff face.
Read the full article here.
Community of Statia questions the decision of local government to perform fireworks from Fort Oranje
© Copyright: Eco Statia NV, 19 November 2023
On social media, concerned citizens of Sint Eustatius are debating the fact that the public entity allowed fireworks in Fort Oranje on Statia Day 2023, November 17th. Sparks from the fireworks caused the cliff reinforcing material behind Orange Bay Hotel to catch fire leaving a big part of the project damaged. Apparently, the local fire department had in the past advised against fireworks in the fort for safety reasons. People are wondering if proper safety measures were in place and if protocols were followed, which are usually the requirements before permissions and permits are even granted to organize such events.
In 2020, during the cliff stabilization works by AcrobatX below Fort Oranje and behind their Harbourclub restaurant, Eco Statia NV had questioned the fire safety of the material that is used to protect the cliff from further eroding. A certificate stating how fire-proof the material is, was never shared. But the public entity did then ordered a local contractor to apply a special concrete on top of the mesh behind the restaurant to - supposedly - make it more fire-proof. Therefore, the risk of fire hazard was known and acknowledged and the fireworks on Statia Day seem like an irresponsible event.
See Facebook group: "Statia: Let's debate the topics" (see post - accessible to group members only)
Onbedoeld vurig slot viering Statia Day
© Copyright: Dossier Koninkrijksrelaties, published on November 18th, 2023
Sint Eustatius - De viering van Statia Day heeft vrijdagmorgen vroeg een onbedoeld spectaculair einde gekregen: vuurwerk zette de 'matten' die de klif moeten stabiliseren in brand. Daarvoor is kennelijk brandbaar materiaal gebruikt.
Tientallen vierkante meters van de nog maar net aangebrachte beveiliging gingen in rook op. De brand deed zich voor in de zone waar de werkzaamheden zijn begonnen, ter hoogte van het Orange Bay Hotel. Dit deel had begin december gereed moeten zijn.
Read the full article (in Dutch) here
Lower Town Cliff Stabilisation Project Progresses
© Copyright: Facebook Statia Government, published on September 6th, 2023
The project to stabilize the Lower Town cliff is progressing at a steady pace. Having recently completed the removal of loose material and vegetation, the contractor, Acrobat X BV, has begun anchor-drilling activities. The removal of the loose material was essential for the project to proceed safely, efficiently, and effectively.
These measures were taken after consultation with relevant stakeholders.
The ongoing cliff restoration project is an integral part of the island's erosion mitigation an nature restoration program, which includes a water management plan and the removal of free grazing animals.
Throughout the project, the government has pledged its commitment tot prioritizing safety, and preserving the natural and environmental heritage, and public health.
See the Facebook post here.
Gevaarlijke klif Statia aangepakt
© Copyright: Binnenlands Bestuur, published on June 2nd, 2023 by Simon Trommel
Nu men geconfronteerd wordt met dwangsommen en schadevergoedingen is er een plan om de gevaarlijke klif op Sint Eustatius aan te pakken.
Het kabinet stelt 19 miljoen beschikbaar voor noodmaatregelen aan de door geiten kaalgevreten en eroderende klif op Sint Eustatius. Onder druk van door de rechter opgelegde dwangsommen en vanwege de acute veiligheidssituatie, moet het geld nog voordat de Tweede Kamer de voorjaarnota behandelt, beschikbaar zijn.
Dat schrijft staatssecretaris Alexandra van Huffelen (Koninkrijksrelaties) woensdag aan de Tweede Kamer. De Tweede Kamer ontving de brief op de dag dat dezelfde Kamer liet weten spoeduitgaven van het kabinet zonder parlementaire inspraak, beu te zijn. Van Huffelen doet toch een beroep op de comptabiliteitswet die zulke spoedbudgetteringen mogelijk maakt, omdat de dwangsommen alleen maar oplopen.
Read the full article (in Dutch) here.
Contracts signed to continue Lower Town cliff stabilisation project
© Copyright: Facebook page Statia Government, published on June 1st, 2023
ORANJESTAD, St. Eustatius (1 June 2023) – Work is expected to begin soon on the cliff stabilisation project in Lower Town. The Government of St. Eustatius signed a contract with Acrobat X B.V. to start the work on the cliff behind the establishments of Eco Statia and behind the STUCO facilities in order to mitigate the risk of damage from falling rocks. The project costs over $19 million and is expected to be completed in 20 months.
“Upon completion of the project we anticipate that both the STUCO plant and the establishments of Eco Statia will be protected from erosion. The measures are urgent and of the highest importance to all Statians. We highly appreciate the financial support of the Dutch government to be able to do what is needed,” said Government Commissioner Alida Francis, who signed on behalf of the Statia Government. Julien Ripert, the president of Acrobat X B.V., signed on behalf of his company Acrobat X. B.V., which undertook a similar project at Fort Oranje in 2019/2020.
Photo: Representatives of the St Eustatius government, commissioner Rueben Merkman and government commissioner Alida Francis, and Julien Ripert from AcrobatX after signing the contract for the cliff stabilisation project
The Central government announced earlier this month that it intended to make available up to €19 million for the Government of St. Eustatius to stabilise parts of the cliff in Lower Town, Oranjestad. Cliff stabilisation is an integral part of the island’s erosion mitigation and nature restoration programme, which includes a water management plan and the removal of free grazing animals.
The Government of St. Eustatius is appealing to the public that makes use of the Lower Town area to exercise patience, understanding and cooperation as we implement the cliff stabilisation project which will run concurrent with the Orange Bay Road project.
Government commissioner Alida Francis and commissioners Arlene Spanner-Schmidt and Rueben Merkman elaborate on the Lower Town cliff stabilistation project on PJB50 Radio on June 1st, 2023
Commissioner of licenses, supervision and enforcement, Arlene Spanner-Schmidt, supported by the Executive Council and the Island Council, is embarking on the further enforcement of the zero tolerance policy with regards to animals roaming on the cliff near Lower Town effective 1 June 2023. Zero tolerance means that the Government of St. Eustatius will remove all animals found roaming above, on, or beneath the cliff in Lower Town.
See the Facebook post here.
Watch and listen to the radio broadcast (Facebook Watch) by the commissioners about the topic here.
'Spoed met aanpak klif St. Eustatius'
Antilliaans Dagblad, published on May 31st, 2023
Den Haag - De rechter heeft staatssecretaris Alexandra van Huffelen aangezet tot spoed bij de aanpak van de gevaarlijke klif op Sint Eustatius. Er Wordt met een beroep op de Comptabiliteitswet direct 19 miljoen euro beschikbaar gesteld voor noodmaatregelen.
De rechter vonniste in december in een zaak van Eco Statia (dat een hotel recht onder de klif bouwt) tegen het Openbaar Lichaam Sint Eustatius (OLE) dat er op korte termijn noodmaatregelen moeten worden getroffen om het gevaar van erosie tegen te gaan. Er werd met ingang van 6 april een dwangsom opgelegd van minimaal 1.000 dollar per dag dat niet aan het vonnis werd voldaan. Het ingestelde hoger beroep heeft geen opschortende werking, bepaalde de rechter op 5 mei. Van Huffelen schrijft nu aan de Tweede Kamer dat het Kabinet hierdoor genoodzaakt is het geld per direct beschikbaar te stellen en niet te wachten op goedkeuring door de Kamer.
Read the full article (in Dutch) here.
Opeens heeft Den Haag wel haast met aanpak klif Statia: Kamers 'gepasseerd'
© Copyright: Dossier Koninkrijksrelaties, published on May 31st, 2023
Den Haag - Het Kabinet Rutte III en IV hebben het gevaar van de klif op Sint Eustatius zo lang genegeerd, dat nu een spoedprocedure noodzakelijk is om zo snel mogelijk aan het stabiliseren te kunnen beginnen.
Jarenlang zijn door Den Haag alarmerende rapporten onder de pet gehouden. Dat gebeurde uit zuinigheid. Zelfs nadat de rechter in december ingreep en het (volledige onder Haags toezicht staande) openbaar lichaam een dwansom opgelde voor elke dag dat de levensgevaarlijke situatie zou blijven bestaan, wees staatssecretaris Van Huffelen elke verantwoordelijkheid af.
[...] Omdat de poging onder de inmiddels fors opgelopen dwangsom uit te komen, is mislukt, heeft Van Huffelen opeens haast. Zij wil daarom in afwijking van de geldende procedure vooruitlopend op de vaststelling van de voorjaarsnota de 19 miljoen vrijmaken.
Read the full article and letters from state secretary Van Huffelen and the island council of Sint Eustatius (in Dutch) here.
Nederland voor derde keer op vingers getikt voor klif Statia
© Copyright: Dossier Koninkrijksrelaties, published on May 24th, 2023
Sint Eustatius - Belangrijke documenten over de levensgevaarlijke situatie bij de klif boven Lower Town zijn ten onrechte door de overheid achtergehouden. Dat blijkt uit een vandaag gewezen vonnis van de rechter.
De kwestie draait om een verzoek van een belanghebbende op grond van de wet openbaarheid van bestuur. Formeel is het openbaar lichaam niet de veroordeelde partij, maar feitelijk is het de Nederlandse regering die zich aangesproken moet voelen. Het is immers Den Haag dat in de tijd waarin het verzoek werd ingediend de dienst uitmaakte. Eerder al veegden door Nederland op Statia gestationeerde functionarissen onder wie regeringscommissaris Marnix van rij alarmerende rapporten onder het tapijt.
Dutch Cabinet reserves additional 19 million to stabilize Cliff on St. Eustatius
© Copyright: BES Reporter, published on May 15th, 2023
THE HAGUE/ORANJESTAD - The cabinet intends to assign a maximum of €19 million to the Public Entity of St. Eustatius so that The Cliff on the harbor side of the island can be stabilized.
This intention was expressed in the Spring Memorandum (Voorjaarsnota) , which was recently presented to the House of Representatives, and still needs to be ratified by the House of Representatives during the discussion of the Spring Memorandum.
The Central Government had already financially assisted the Public Entity when reinforcing the cliff under Fort Oranje. However, further research showed that measures were needed on a much larger part of the cliff on the harbor side of St. Eustatius.
The Public Entity is responsible for the condition and maintenance of The Cliff but, due to the scale of the project, also from a financial perspective, officially requested help from the Central Government at the start of this year. The Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations is prepared to support St. Eustatius in this matter. Decisions about such requests are always made around the Spring memorandum.
Read the full article here.
Read the same news on the news site of the Dutch Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations, the website of the St Eustatius government, the Daily Herald and the website of Dossier Koninkrijksrelaties.
Danger cliff on Sint Eustatius suddenly an 'acute threat' for cabinet
© Copyright: Dossier Koninkrijksrelaties, published on May 12th, 2023
Den Haag - The Rutte cabinet pretends that the danger that the by erosion undermined cliff on Sint Eustatius only recently arose. In 2017, engineering firm Haskoning/DHV, commissioned by the Rijksvastgoedbedrijf, published a report on the poor condition of the cliff. For financial reasons, the cabinet decided to stabilize only the part under Fort Oranje, a monument that is national property. After the Netherlands took over the management of Sint Eustatius in February 2018, 4 more reports were written, one even more alarming than the other. They were swept under the rug, but came to light last year via this site.
In December, the judge ordered the public entity, because of their negligence, to start taking risk reducing safety measures within 3 months. The central government disregarded the verdict, arguing that the public entity (controlled by Dutch officials) owns the cliff. In the meantime, the cabinet does acknowledge its responsibility, as appeared from the Spring Memorandum last week. An amount of 19 million euros has been reserved for stabilizing the cliff.
Read the full article (in Dutch) here.
The Dutch government loses again in 'cliff gate' Sint Eustatius
© Copyright: Dossier Koninkrijksrelaties, published on May 5th, 2023
Sint Eustatius - The Dutch government has once again received a merciless beating in the legal process surrounding the refusal to take security measures at the cliff below Oranjestad. Formally, the party addressed is the Public Entity of Sint Eustatius, but it is the national government that calls the shots in the cliff file.
[Google translation]
Read the full article (in Dutch) here.
Read the full verdict (in Dutch) by the Joint Court of Justice for Bonaire, St Eustatius and Saba of the preliminary injunction here.
Van Huffelen washes hands in innocence: Statia itself responsible
© Copyright: Dossier Koninkrijksrelaties, published on February 13th, 2023
Den Haag - State Secretary Van Huffelen (Kingdom Relations) washes her hands in innocence. The fact that the cliff on Sint Eustatius is life-threatening is the responsibility of the local government, she wrote to the House of Representatives today. The minister does not say a word about the fact that an alarming report was swept under the rug by former government commissioner Van Rij.
[Google translated]
Read the full article (in Dutch) here.
Stray goats may cause million-dollar loss to St Eustatius
© Copyright: The BES Reporter, published on January 22nd, 2023 by Harald Linkels
ORANJESTAD- The news site binnenlandsbestuur.nl writes in a recent publication about an impending million-dollar loss for St. Eustatius that is indirectly or at least partly caused by stray goats on the island.
The article relates to the lawsuit and claim that the Orange Bay hotel brought against local Government due to the danger that the now unstable cliff on the island would pose to the hotel’s guests.
“Due to erosion due to the stray goats that devour the island, the Orange Bay Hotel at the bottom of Oranjestad’s cliff has been unable to open since the beginning of the Pandemic, as the safety of guests cannot be guaranteed due to possible falling boulders. The hotel is claiming damages, the counter of which is already at $ 1.4 million,” writes binnenlandsbestuur.nl.
The Orange Bay hotel won an injunction against Local Government at the end of 2022. In a civil suit, the judge ordered the island’s Government to make the cliff safe with a penalty of $1,000 per day, up to $1 million they fail to do so. According to the binnenlandsbestuur.nl, the Court held the public entity St. Eustatius liable for the hotel’s trading losses, which the hotel itself calculates at USD 2,500 per day.
Read the full article here.
Only a fraction of the biggest plans for the Orange Bay hotel were actually realized. Photo: BES Reporter
Rechter: Overheid nalatig door gevaar klif op Sint Eustatius te verzwijgen
© Copyright: Dossier Koninkrijksrelaties, published on December 6th, 2022
Sint Eustatius - Het onder toezicht van de regering gestelde bestuur van het openbaar lichaam Sint Eustatius heeft volgens de rechter onrechtmatig gehandeld door het gevaar van de klif onder de pet te houden en - uit zuinigheid - onvoldoende veiligheidsmaatregelen te nemen. Dat blijkt uit het vandaag gewezen vonnis in een rechtszaak die het bedrijf Eco Statia tegen de lokale overheid heeft aangespannen.
Het openbaar lichaam moet over uiterlijk 3 maanden starten met het nemen van maatregelen om het gevaar van loskomende rotsblokken weg te nemen. Omdat de rechter het waarschijnlijk acht dat de overheid de veroordeling naast zich neerlegt, is een dwamgsom van toepassing die kan oplopen tot een miljoen dollar. Het vonnis is bij voorraad uitvoerbaar. Een eventueel hoger beroep heeft dus geen opschortende werking.
Read the full article (in Dutch) here.
Facebook page Statia Government, 11 October, 2022
Stuco is forced to absorb thousands of dollars in losses whenever there’s a power outage, explains Irwin Jack, an executive of the water and electric company. The outages are often caused by erosion of the cliffs above the plant, a consequence ofthe impact of roaming animals. Mr. Jack shares his story in this video.
Watch the interview with Irwin Jack from Stuco on the Facebook page of the Sint Eustatius government.
Rotsblokken vallen op energiebedrijf Sint-Eustatius: ‘Dankbaar dat niemand is overleden’
© Copyright: Caribisch Netwerk, published on January 31st, 2022 by John Samson
ORANJESTAD – Opnieuw zijn er in de gemeente Sint-Eustatius stukken uit de klifwanden naar beneden gevallen. Zondag was energie- en waterbedrijf Stuco aan de beurt, waardoor stroom, elektriciteit en internet uitvielen op het eiland.
De brandstofleiding en de muren van het gebouw raakten beschadigd. Er zijn geen gewonden of doden gevallen, maar inwoners vragen zich af wanneer de politiek gaat ingrijpen. Beneden de 30-metershoge klif waar het nutsbedrijf is, zijn er ook andere gebouwen zoals restaurants, hotels en natuurbeschermer Stenapa.
Op Sint-Eustatius zorgen duizenden loslopende geiten al jaren voor levensgevaarlijke situaties langs de kust. Ze vreten al het groen kaal op de klif, waardoor zand en rotsen loskomen.
Door dit probleem met erosie dreigde ook het eeuwenoude Fort Oranje naar beneden te vallen. In de afgelopen jaren heeft het kabinet maar liefst tien miljoen euro uitgegeven om met spoed de klifwanden daar te verstevigen.
‘Dankbaar dat er geen doden zijn’
“Mensen zijn hier heel dankbaar dat er geen doden zijn gevallen”, vertelt inwoner Urisha Blake. “Het gebeurt helaas al zó vaak dat stukken uit de klifwanden daar naar beneden vallen, dat weinig mensen verbaasd reageren.”
Ook inwoner Lucinda Redan heeft er genoeg van. “En alweer is de gemeente Sint-Eustatius aan het afwachten met actie te ondernemen, totdat iemand straks mors dood is. De Stuco-medewerkers lopen elke dag risico’s, maar de overheid heeft blijkbaar andere prioriteiten!”
“De klif bij het fort kon wel verstevigd worden, maar waarom is dat dan bij Stuco nog niet gebeurd?”, vraagt Redan zich af. “Dit was een wake-up call. Wanneer precies worden de klifwanden daar gestut?”
Read the full article (in Dutch) here.