Central Bank wants to keep sub-contractors of Taliesin Construction.
PHILIPSBURG:--- The President of Central Bank of Curacao and St. Maarten Emsley Tromp told reporters on Monday that the oversight committee and the Central Bank of Curacao and St. Maarten decided to terminate the contract they had with Taliesin Construction after they got indication of integrity breaches involving the St. Maarten Housing Financing Foundation (SMHFF). Tromp said when they got the information they conducted an internal investigation at the SMHFF since they also supervise that foundation every three years. Tromp refused to share what integrity breaches they found with the SMHFF with the media and he also made clear that the Central Bank will not share that information with the government of St. Maarten. Tromp said when the investigation was finalized they found issues of integrity that involves Taliesin Construction therefore they took the decision to terminate the contract they have with Taliesin Construction for the remodeling of the Central Bank on St. Maarten. The termination he said would have become effective on April 17th 2015 but Taliesin Construction chose to place a "Mechanics Lien" on the Central Bank property which he said was illegal. Tromp said that the lien was placed when the working agreement with Taliesin was still valid. He also said that the contract they have with Taliesin Construction has a clause that says that the contract could be terminated at any time without any specific cause. Tromp further explained that even though they sent letters to Taliesin Construction they did not make any public statements therefore they are not liable for any damages to Taliesin Construction. Tromp also admitted that the Central Bank does owe Taliesin Construction but so far the company did not send in any invoices to the Central Bank for payment. Tromp assured that as soon as the invoices are sent to them the payments will be made, including their calculations of what they believe they owe Taliesin Construction for loss of profits.
When questioned by SMN News on the bidding process Tromp said some four companies participated in the public bid and Taliesin Construction won that bid because they were the best. He also agreed that the construction company and its workers were screened but said when it comes to integrity they are allowed to investigate and take appropriate actions when they have to, which is what they did when they decided to terminate the contract with Taliesin Construction for the remodeling of the Central Bank on St. Maarten.
Tromp said they are already discussing with a construction company to continue the project and the Central Bank wants to keep the sub-contractors and workers from Taliesin Construction because all of the workers were screened. Tromp refused to say which construction company they are in discussions with because he said they have not yet signed a contract with that company.
In this case SMN News asked Tromp how did the oversight committee and the Central Bank decided to go after Taliesin Construction whom they associated with the SMHFF when Taliesin Construction never had a contract with the SMHFF or the St. Maarten Housing Development Foundation (SMHDF) but instead worked as a sub-contractor for the St. Maarten Housing Development Foundation (SMHDF). Tromp said he cannot take repercussions against someone he does not have a contract with, while he said that he will not disclose the findings of their investigation at SMHFF he said the two companies has the same director. Furthermore, since the Central Bank has Central Bank has a contract with Taliesin Construction for the Central Bank project on St. Maarten and since they worked as a sub-contractor for SMHDF the Central Bank took actions against him, but they want to keep the sub-contractors that worked for Taliesin Construction.
While Tromp was not clear with exact reasons for terminating the contract he has with Taliesin Construction he made clear that the decision they took is not a political decision. Asked if the decision is some form of 'witch-hunting" because someone that is closely attached to the Central Bank wanted the position of Director of the SMHDF. Tromp said that Taliesin Construction gave the media wrong information because the person he sat with in the meeting held on March 13th 2015 was not former Governor Jaime Saleh but instead it was Governor Frits Goedgedrag. Tromp said that the persons that are on the oversight committee are known persons that have spotless records and they will not engage in politics.
Click here to see Dutch version of press statement from Central Bank