ORANJESTAD, St. Eustatius – Former St. Eustatius Search and Rescue coordinator Lenaldo Courtar has called for greater transparency regarding the island’s emergency response capabilities following the resignation of the volunteer search and rescue team.
In a letter addressed to the media, Courtar said the volunteers unanimously decided to step away from rescue operations after the denial of a Certificate of Good Conduct (VOG) application submitted by the team’s coordinator. According to Courtar, the decision was also influenced by what team members viewed as a lack of follow-through on commitments made to the organization over the years.
For many years, the volunteer team assisted with maritime emergencies, missing person searches, disaster response and other incidents requiring urgent assistance.
Courtar argues that the team’s departure raises questions about the island’s current capacity to respond to emergencies, particularly outside normal working hours. He is calling on government authorities to clarify what resources are available for maritime rescues, missing persons, disaster response and other emergency situations.
The former coordinator also raised questions about emergency preparedness at F.D. Roosevelt Airport, including the availability of trained personnel and rescue resources in the event of an aviation-related incident.
“The people of St. Eustatius deserve transparency regarding the current state of rescue operations and the Government’s plans moving forward” Courtar wrote.
Measures to be taken
He urged authorities to explain how continuous search and rescue coverage will be maintained and what measures are being taken to safeguard residents, visitors, mariners and air travelers.
The BES-reporter reached out to the Statia Government for a reaction earlier on Thursday, but no response was received as of publication of this article.
