Min. Gumbs confirms outstanding payment for AcrobatX Emergency works in Ebenezer

GREAT BAY--Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure Patrice Gumbs has addressed reports concerning outstanding monies owed to AcrobatX for emergency stabilization works carried out in Ebenezer.

Minister Gumbs explained that the principal payment for the project was made in June 2025. The outstanding amount now being referenced relates to additional emergency stabilization works that became necessary during the execution of the project.

According to the Minister, an additional amount of XCG 281,627 for the Ebenezer emergency stabilization works was approved by the Council of Ministers in October 2025. However, the amount was not budgeted for in 2025. In January 2026, the Ministry of Finance advised that payment would have to await the passing of the 2026 budget.

The vendor has been informed of the situation. The Ministry is now awaiting Finance’s timeline for bringing the matter to Parliament.

“The intention to pay is there,” Minister Gumbs said. “We are now awaiting the passing of the 2026 budget.”

The Minister thanked the contractor for its patience, noting that the delay forms part of a frustrating bureaucratic process. He also said the situation highlights the need for a more reliable funding mechanism to deal with urgent infrastructure and environmental matters.

To address this need, Gumbs said an Urban Development and Environmental Fund is being developed to better support long-term infrastructure funding. The proposed fund is intended to help government move away from repeated emergency responses and toward more structured planning for public works, environmental management and infrastructure maintenance.

The emergency landslide stabilization works in Ebenezer were completed in June 2025 by the Ministry of VROMI as part of efforts to improve hillside safety ahead of the peak 2025 hurricane season.

The intervention addressed a critical landslide threat along Ebenezer Road that emerged following significant soil movement in mid-2024. At the time, the situation posed a danger to nearby homes, public infrastructure and stormwater channels, with blocked drainage increasing flooding risks for residents in the area.

The emergency works followed years of community complaints and safety concerns dating back to 2010 regarding the excavation of the hillside. Between 2020 and 2022, residents of Ebenezer submitted several letters to the Ministry of VROMI concerning the eroding hill face and the impact of falling soil.

The situation worsened after tropical storms in early August 2024, which contributed to further erosion and led to the collapse of a septic tank and cistern onto properties below. This caused additional blockage of drains and increased concern about the possible collapse of the hill face. The area was further affected by the St. Maarten Day rains in November 2024, which caused severe island-wide flooding.

The emergency works included shotcrete nailed wall construction, slope anchoring, and the clearing and restoration of the public drainage trench. The solution, with proper maintenance, was designed to have a significant lifespan while allowing for natural revegetation of the hill face.

The stabilization was completed in just under three months, ahead of peak storm activity. AcrobatX, one of the few specialized geotechnical contractors operating in the subregion, executed the project.

Minister Gumbs said the intervention formed part of government’s broader effort to address climate-related risks, infrastructure vulnerabilities and public safety concerns in residential areas. He added that while emergency interventions are sometimes necessary, the Ministry continues to work toward more structured planning and funding mechanisms to better manage infrastructure and environmental risks.

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