Wescot-Williams asks Finance Ministry to study APS role in rooftop solar financing

MP Sarah A. Wescot-Williams (DP) has asked Finance Minister Marinka J. Gumbs to have the Ministry of Finance examine whether Algemeen Pensioenfonds Sint Maarten (APS) could help make rooftop solar affordable for households, and under what conditions.

According to Wescot-Williams' letter, the ministry should work with the APS Board and, where appropriate, the Central Bank of Curaçao and Sint Maarten. She asked for a report to Parliament on whether APS's mandate permits residential solar financing, including through its local-investment arrangement with the Sint Maarten Investment Company.

APS reported a coverage ratio of 116.23%, assets exceeding Cg 1 billion and a pension increase for the third consecutive year. Wescot-Williams said pension payments come first. She said any APS role should protect the people whose retirement money is in the fund and respect its independence, with contributors to the fund as the first target group.

Her request also covers the feasibility of a revolving rooftop-solar loan facility for public-sector employees, including repayment through salary deductions. She asked for an assessment of how NV GEBE's interconnection and billing policies affect household savings.

Wescot-Williams also requested an assessment of whether residential renewable energy could be part of APS's diversified investment portfolio. She asked officials to consider government guarantees or bank partnerships for vulnerable households, and to bring together APS, NV GEBE, commercial banks and other stakeholders to work toward a national energy-financing framework.