Marigot: --- Several persons including the territorial council are questioning the intentions of the president of the Tourist Office who wants the council promote the interim director to director of the Tourist Office. A meeting is scheduled to be held on Wednesday afternoon with the council where a decision has to be taken on the promotion. SMN News was reliably informed that the meeting had to be postponed twice because the territorial councilors did not show up on at least two occasions protesting against the decision of the EPIC President. If the meeting is held on Wednesday, the Council would be asked to vote on the matter. It is not clear if the opposition is in favor of the move or if they are against it since this would be another foreigner that would be assigned to a top position.
SMN News understands that the president of tourist office was called in and a discussion was held on her intentions. SMN News further understands that the director was hired as a consultant (Picaut & Fine Companies) to conduct the audit of the Tourist Office Association prior to her being hired as the interim director. It is also forbidden for any consultant to manage an EPIC according to French Administrative laws.
Questioning is her salary which stands at Euros 4, 500. The EPIC also has to provide housing, car, and phone and to cover the new employee’s moving expenses from France to St. Martin. Sources say the new director is also a friend of the president of the EPIC a situation she fought against with the former director who was fired.
It is not clear, how the council intends to deal with the issue, which has become highly controversial and if the prefet delegue would take actions against the illegalities taking place at the COM and Tourist Office. Already the treasury had taken action by not paying the utility bills of the tourist office some two months ago. The building was without phone, electricity, and water, which was restored after payment was made.
