Resettlement
The Government of Sint Maarten and the NRPB are working together to improve the management of the landfill on Pond Island through the Emergency Debris Management Project (EDMP). Over the past three (3) years, the project has procured heavy equipment and alternative daily cover (ACD) materials and applicators for the landfill. The latter is a non-organic and non-flammable material that can be sprayed onto solid waste to prevent surface and underground fires, a prevalent issue in 2018.
To continue this work on behalf of the Government of Sint Maarten, the NRPB has begun to the processing of resettling persons living and working in the immediate vicinity of the landfill to protect their health and safety. Since 2019, several commissioned studies have demonstrated the risks to this community. These include exposure to air, soil, and water pollution, and the risk of the landfill’s slopes collapsing. To mitigate these risks, a buffer zone on the land next to the landfill is being developed, free of homes and businesses.
How were affected persons consulted?
In November 2020, the NRPB and consulting firm RINA conducted a socio-economic survey and an affected persons and assets census in the area near the landfill, which has been termed the Resettlement Area of Impact (RAI). These actions aimed to ensure that no one living or working in the RAI was left out of the process. The survey and census were completed on November 29, 2020, and this date has been established as the project cut-off.
Resettlement Action Plan
Based on the results of the survey and census, the NRPB, in close collaboration with the Government of Sint Maarten, developed a Resettlement Action Plan (RAP). The World Bank’s environmental and social safeguard regulations provided the guiding values of the RAP, recognizing the human rights and safety of those being asked to leave their homes and adapt their livelihoods.
As part of the Resettlement Action Plan, the community that resided within the Resettlement Area of Impact, next to the Solid Waste Disposal Site were successfully relocated, with the final resident vacating their structure on February 13, 2024.
The map below shows the Resettlement Area of Impact in green. This is the location from where 141 individuals and 31 businesses were relocated due to their proximity to the landfill.
Livelihood Restoration Plan
The Livelihood Restoration Plan (LRP) is a program tasked with supporting people relocated from areas affected by the Emergency Debris Management Project. The LRP began in May 2023 and offers various training opportunities to help resettled individuals rebuild their livelihoods particularly in cases where the resettlement may have ended up in them losing their job.
The plan prioritizes support for vulnerable groups, including women, the elderly, disabled individuals, and single parent households, to make sure opportunities for them to rebuild their livelihoods are equitable and accessible. The training aims to further their skills so they can boost opportunities to generate long-term income.
The LRP trainings are made up of 12 different courses. The courses were selected based on survey results from the relocated people themselves, which took into consideration their existing skill sets, education and access to organizations that can support them. The activity is part of the project’s commitment to ensure that the resettled people’s lives are rebuilt to a similar standard or better than before their relocation due to the EDMP.
In addition to vocational training, the program also offers psychosocial support services. There is also a Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM) which is a platform where participants can voice concerns, complaints and give feedback. This is to ensure the transparency of the program and to make sure the voices of relocated individuals are heard. The program includes continuous monitoring and evaluation, where participants can share their feedback so course offerings can be adjusted based on the needs of the participants.
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