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THE HAGUE--Dutch Minister of Housing and Governmental Organisation Stef Blok on Tuesday confirmed that the cooperation with the Dutch housing corporation Woonlinie has again been put on hold with adverse consequences for the Golden Rock public housing project.
Blok explained in response to written questions submitted by Member of the Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament Ronald van Raak of the Socialist Party (SP) that Statia's current Executive Council indicated early December that it didn't want to stick to agreements that it signed regarding the reorganisation of the Statia Housing Foundation (SHF).
Van Raak had sought clarity following a letter to the editor in The Daily Herald last week in which the Democratic Party of St. Eustatius claimed that the Golden Rock housing project had been cancelled and that this was the fault of particularly Commissioner Reginald Zaandam.
Blok explained that in 2011, Woonlinie was forced to end the cooperation in St. Eustatius. Talks took place in 2013 between the public entity St. Eustatius, Woonlinie and the Ministry of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations on the request of the Executive Council. Concrete agreements between the parties were made in 2014.
The agreements entailed renovation and construction of low income homes, and support for the Statia Government in the reorganisation process of the SHF in order to come to a "sustainable input." The SHF had to be professionalised.
Blok said he "very much deplored" that the cooperation had been put on hold again. "Because through this cooperation an important basis can be laid to realise good quality homes for people with a low income. Investing in new homes and renovation only has a sustainable effect when at the same time work can be done on effective management of the social housing," he stated.
Asked by Van Raak whether he was willing to investigate if discrimination, fraud or nepotism was involved in the case in question, the minister stated that in first instance it was up to the Statia Island Council to question the local government on its motives and way of handling.
"Whatever the motives may have been, it is clear that this way of handling jeopardises many efforts and investments that have already been made. In addition, the renovation and construction of new social housing can't take place for now, while this is very needed in my opinion," stated Blok.
The minister clarified that so far the Executive Council hadn't gotten into contact with the BZK ministry and Woonlinie to discuss the matter since the agreement was put on hold. "Considering the current attitude of the Executive Council I don't see how under these circumstances the renovation can be realised on the short term. The Executive Council was informed of this before it took the definite decision not to stick to the agreement," he concluded his letter.
