Philipsburg: --- The island council adjourned its meeting called to discuss the courts decision on Scarlet NV, which was rendered on July 17 2009.
Another meeting will be called on Friday to continue the discussions. Leader of government William Marlin in his address said that because the court has condemned the island council to pay a Naf.10, 000 daily until a decision is made on the pending amendments to Scarlet NV business license. Marlin said the Island Council is now faced with a situation where they would have to take a decision on Scarlet if they are to stop the counter, which is already at Naf.180, 000 now that they are ten days away from when the court ruled.
Marlin proposed to the island council that they amend the business license of Scarlet so that they can stop that counter which was imposed on the council. He further suggested that approving the amendments would also stop the ongoing court battles; however, the DP faction did not see the verdict in the same light.
They agreed that the council should take a decision on the pending amendments but also outlined in the verdict where the judge gave the council an option to decide otherwise if they believe that having another telecommunication company would jeopardize the island’s economy. Leader of the DP faction said that the last time the council met to discuss this issue they asked the judge not to impose the penalty and to grant the island council the time to seek advice from an independent bureau. However, the judge does not feel that is needed claiming that the council has sufficient information and technocrats at their disposal to take a decision.
Former Commissioner of Telecommunications and now island council lady Maria Buncamper Molaus shared the same view, Buncamper Molanus said should the island council make such an amendments then they would be jeopardizing the livelihood of TELEM workers, which ranged to about 200. Buncamper Molanus also explained while that figure only represents the employees of the company if multiplied by four to include family members that would be affecting already 800 people, doing so she said would directly affect the economy of St. Maarten that is already faced with the effects of a recession.
Buncamper Molanus also read out parts of the telecommunication policy, which has a moratorium on such licenses. She advised the council to look into the telecommunication policy and to take the right decision. The island council then adjourned and the Attorney at law Richard Gibson Jr. was called in to work on a new proposal, which is to be presented to the island council on Friday. The island council has decided that they would now bring a proposal to reject the amendments of Scarlet NV business license based on the points raised by the DP Faction.
