Statia's Economy

Statia's economy is stable and well placed to grow in the near future. With practically no unemployment and a skilled workforce, we have a infrastructure in place to ensure sustained growth.

Infrastructure:

The infrastructure is divided into electricity, water, telecommunication and roadnetwork.

Electricity:

Electricity is available by the local Electricity Company G.E.B.E. NV. G.E.B.E.NV., was established on the island October 5th 1965. The deceased, Her Majesty Former Queen Juliana had the privilege and honour at the Power Station to push the lever in switching on the electricity, supplying the island for the first time with electricity. The required load capacity on the island is presently 1900 kw. The yearly consumption is 11GWH (gigawatt hours) or, 11.000 MWH (megawatt hours) or, 11.000.000 KWH (kilowatt hours). Over 9000 liters of diesel is consumed on a daily basis. There are 1500 client connections hooked up to G.E.B.E. Electricity Company. In remote areas will require a contract with the local Electricity Company G.E.B.E. The total costs will have to be paid to get electricity in that area. The electricity is 110-120 volts 60 Hertz. In cases of emergency there is a possibility to obtain current from Valero LP, (SOT) Statia Oil Terminal.

Water:
The Island residents drinking water, is supplied by rainwater collected in cisterns. Additional drinking water is supplied from wells by local entrepreneurs or from the reverse osmosis plant from the Statia Oil Terminal and delivered by truck. The Oil Terminal has an over capacity of maximum 70.000 gallons per day.

Government Water Plant

The Government has its own reverse osmosis plant which was completed and officially opened on November 16th 2004, and is operated by G.E.B.E., the local Electrical Company. This was financed by Development Funds. The plant has a daily capacity of 30,000 gallons per day. Two water trucks distribute water on a daily basis with a capacity of 1930 gallons each. Water-pipes have been completely installed at the Lower Town and the entire Historical Core in Oranjestad. The 9th European Development Fund (EDF) will complete the installment of water-pipes to the other villages in the very near future.

Telecommunication:

In 1996 the local Telecommunication Company EUTEL. NV., expanded their existing installation to build a storage facility, this was necessary because there was no space designated for this purpose. Shortly after, the same room was converted into a new equipment bunker to accommodate the installation of a new switch This new switch brought with it the possibility for new customer features and services. It also gave us the opportunity to have an independent switch mechanism since prior to this, all calls were actually handled by equipment on St.Maarten. Seeing the existing equipment room was too small to accommodate this upgrade, we had to expand. This was the first and very important step toward Eutel NV growing into an independent Telecommunication. The second major expansion in 2007 was planned and executed to again accommodate the installation of new equipment, as our service expanded over the years.With Internet Cellular etc, we have now outgrown the expansion that was done in 1996. In addition, as incumbent Telco not only have the need to expand to accommodate our own growth, we also must provide space for third party service providers. The new larger and fully equipped technical space is accomplishing this goal.We have expanded the front of the building to accommodate a new client reception area. Here we can now provide a comfortable air-conditioned area with display case and PC terminal to our existing clientele and visitors alike. In 2004 one person was added to the staff. During 2007 we also added one person to the staff. This brings the staff presently at Eutel to a total of seven persons. Cellular phones were introduced in February 2004. The final expansion was completed in 2007.

Roadnetwork:

A masterproject to pave the entire roadnetwork, thirty kilometers, over a period of 6 years has gone into effect in 1997. The Island Government has already invested US$.700.000,-- in roads in the area of the airport

Transportation:

Transportation is divided in airport, airlift, port facilities and port development.

Airport:

The Franklin Delano Roosevelt Airport of Sint Eustatius has a runway of 5.265 ft (1.300 meters) and can accommondate small aircrafts and jets like Fokker 50, ATR 42,Dash 8 and cargo planes like C 130, Boeing 727 and DC 3. The airport is classified by the ICAO standards as a 3 C. Technical information: location 17.29.30 N and 62.58.32. W, airport elevation 129 ft., runway numbers 06 / 24, runway strength PCN 20/F/B/W/T, wide 30 meters, blast area 30 meters.

Per 1996 the airport has solar powered beaconlights and approach/runway lights with an independent power back-up system. In 1994 there were 3.695 landings of aircrafts and 49.461 passenger arrivals and departures by air. Due to the hurricanes Luis and Marilyn and the damage in Sint Maarten the figures of 1995 and 1996 are not representative.

Airlift:

Windward Island Airways, WINAIR, is the only scheduled carrier offering regular air service to the Island of Sint Eustatius. WINAIR operates STOL Twin Otter aircrafts with a capacity of 20 seats per flight. There are a number of scheduled flights every day. Additionally, there are several local owners of private jets and foreign companies operating chartered services to the surrounding Islands - St. Barths, St. Kitts and Nevis and Sint Maarten. There are no direct destination flight connections. All visitors to Statia must transit via Sint Maarten's Princess Juliana Airport.

Port facilities and port development:

The present port was built in 1993 and consist of an 80 meters long breakwater with a harbour- light and an 8 meters wide, 60 meters long pier with Ro-Ro accommondation of 15 meters wide. The harbour is suitable for vessels up to 600 DWT and 175 feet long but also vessels of 4.000 DWT moored along the pier as long as their depth has a maximal of 4 meters.

The present depth along the pier is 4.30 meters. The harbour has a storage capacity of 5.500 m2. A harbour development plan is awaiting approval and financing. The plan consist of expanding the present breakwater by 165 meters, dredging the depth to 5,50 meters under LWS, to extent the pier with dolphins to accommondate vessels of 100 meters long and to establish an extra breakwater to the North of the harbour which allows the inner water to be calm in order to accommondate max. 60 yachts. A second option is to establish an 850 meters long breakwater in front of the bay but this project is extremely expensive.

At present all cruise ships anchor out and use tenders to bring their cruise passengers to shore. Cruise ships have the possibility of bunkering high quality fuel oil from the local oil terminal.

Statia Terminals NV, an independent oil storage and bunkerstation is located on the North West side of the Island. Bunkering is provided with barges. The majority of the storage installations are build in a small valley and are not visible when on the Island itself. Experienced chandler agencies provide full service.

Land development:

The Government does not sell land, only long lease for properties used for business purposes. Before approval by the Executive Council a study is carried out on the area that is to developed and if it is according to the Zoning Ordinance and the Hindrance Ordinance of the Island Territory. There is approximately 30.000 m2 beach property available for tourism development on long lease terms at the historical Lower Town area. Depending the total investment, employment and contribution to the total community the long lease charges are negotiable.

A scoping study on beach erosion including stabilization measures in the Lower Town area was finalized in June 1996. The report is available to investors in this area.

Tourism policy:

In 1994 a "Tourism Policy of Sint Eustatius 1995-1997" was approved by the Executive Council. The Government recognizes the importance of tourism for the Island economy as well as the welfare and well being of the population.

The development is based on a carefully planned policy. Important is to minimize disruptive ethnic, sociocultural and environmental effects associated with tourism development. The Government shall stimulate and foster ownership and management by Statians but welcomes also foreign investment. The Government will provide all information necessary to investors timely and will support any investment incentive applicable such as tax-holidays.

All legislation to preserve nature and historical buildings are in place, the Historical Core Plan, Statia Marine Park, Botanical Garden, protection of flora and fauna, and sites of historical importance, are in process for approval of the Executive Council and Island Council, such as the establishment of two nature parks and a Monument Ordinance.

© 2005-2007 St. Eustatius Government and Turquoise Interactive.