PHILIPSBURG:--- The Ombudsman of Sint Maarten, Dr. Nilda Arduin, calls on Government and Parliament for immediate and swift actions after the Today Newspaper reports the Court holding the government of Sint Maarten responsible for mistakes made by Cadaster.
In June 2012 the Ombudsman reported to the Minister of VROMI after finalizing her investigation regarding her concerns pertaining to the operations and registration of information at the Land registry ‘Kadaster en Hypotheekwezen’ (K&H). After numerous requests for follow up by the Minister of VROMI on her report, Parliament was addressed by the Ombudsman with yet another report regarding K&H in 2013.
Upon the invitation of Parliament the Ombudsman further outlined and explained her concerns in a Central Committee meeting, and the need for swift actions by Government and or Parliament. The possibility of Government being held responsible for mistakes made by K&H was one of the main concerns. It was pointed out that the public must be able to rely on information provided by Cadaster, while the investigation of the Ombudsman indicated that there are reasons for concern that this was not properly done.
None of the recommendations issued by the Ombudsman in her reports were followed, while a so-called issue with the law has been continuously used for none action by Government and or Parliament. The tools proposed and discussed by the Ombudsman to take action when discussing her Year Report 2014 in Parliament, were not followed. The result of the none action by Government and Parliament on a report presented more than three years ago, and repeatedly brought to the attention of all parties responsible for the proper registration of property on Sint Maarten, resulted in the country to be stuck with ‘a very expensive lesson for which the tax payer is going to carry the can’ as reported by the Today newspaper.