PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure (Ministry of VROMI) Hon. Maurice Lake says that information was provided to DEVCON as the main contractor what is required when transporting such material along the public road, and all parties have agreed to supply the necessary information to facilitate the trucking.
Ministry VROMI also has to be provided with information such as: how much sand is being transported? Where is the sand being transported too? What is the transport schedule? How is the sand being dredged? How much sand is going to what locations?
DEVCON and stakeholders were informed by Ministry VROMI that trucks cannot transport silt when it is wet; secondly, wet silt with seawater running out of the truck on the public road will damage the asphalt.
"Government has to give approval. This is no wild-wild west. We are governed by rules and regulations. I am upholding the rule of law as the responsible Minister. Nobody cannot go on the landfill and tell Windward Roads which is contracted by Government to take care of the landfill that they come to dump sand without the necessary paperwork being in place.
"I have introduced standards and we need to abide by standards if things are to be done according to the procedures, rules and regulations. Doing things in an ad hoc manner is a thing of the past.
"Everything has to be properly documented and there must be a paper trail so when questions are asked you have everything documented according to the laws of the land. There may be those who have operated in the past by verbal agreement, but that holds no water. Under my watch you conform and adhere to the laws and procedures of country Sint Maarten.
"I am not here to take anybody's bread and butter. I am here to create work. Certain people need to get their facts straight. Things have to be planned properly, and I am not here to play any political games," Minister Hon. Maurice Lake said on Monday.
DEVCON Island Manager Conley Browne said he totally agreed with the way the meeting went on Monday morning with Minister Lake and that they were doing their best to meet the requirements of Ministry VROMI. Browne added that the project has not stopped and everybody is working in the interest of the truckers and stakeholders.
The Minister met with DEVCON Island Manager Conley Browne, harbor representatives, and Ministry VROMI Secretary General and members of the Minister's Cabinet.