Philipsburg: --- Island Councilman Roy Marlin has sent a letter to the leader of government and commissioner of housing William Marlin asking several key questions pertaining to the purchase of Hope Estate. The island councilman said even though the island leader made the announcement on the purchase of the land his sources told him no decision was taken in the island council. He said based on newspaper reports the commissioner said the land would be purchased by the St. Maarten Housing Development Foundation whereby government would be providing a subsidy to the latter.
The councilman said while he applaud, the initiative of government to embark on such venture t provide affordable homes he needs to be provided with certain information.
Marlin wants to know when the executive council took the decision to purchase the land in Hope Estate. He wants to know what the purchase price of the land is and which financial institution will provide the loan to the SMHDF and at what interest rate.
The former commissioner of housing said he also wants to know how long the executive council would be subsiding the SMHDF for them to pay back the loan.
For how many years will the Executive Council have to subsidize the SMHDF to pay back the loan? Marlin said if the period is longer than five years if the decision of the executive council would have to be sent to the island council for approval, which is according to the law on financial management.
Has the Executive Council considered including the amount needed to purchase the land as part of governments capital expenditures which would have allowed this to be financed from the borrowing authority awarded to the Island Territory of St Maarten, which also entails that the Dutch State can at all times subscribe to a bond in order to make the interest rate competitive? Marlin said he also wants to know the total amount square meters of the island that is to be purchased and how much is suitable for the construction of homes. He is also asking for the certificate of ad-measurement if there is any or with a topographical map of the property. The island councilman said he also wants to know if there are appraisals for the property and if so he can be provided with copies of those appraisals.
Marlin made clear that when he was about to sell the lands in Belvedere he was accused of having a hoax, he said today there are number of people who are now seeking their building permits since the lands was indeed sold. He said he believes that the announcement made by the leader of government is one to be called a hoax.
