Philipsburg:--- Island Council lady Maria Buncamper Molanus has presented two letters to the chairman of the island council where she requested information from the council. Buncamper Molanus requested from the island council the transcripts of the June 8 island council meeting. The island council member wanted the transcripts of the statements made by island councilman Louie Laveist and Commissioner Hyacinth Richardson. She officially received those transcripts last Monday, which she said she already studied and is now requesting more answers pertaining to statements Laveist made during that meeting.
In her letter to the council, she said, “While I do not consider it at all proper to delve into the details of any benefits being received by any citizen on St. Maarten, I am compelled to make an exception as serious accusations were levied against me using this subject matter as the basis of these accusations. Therefore it can only be considered fair to all concerned that the requested information be provided including the supporting evidence.”
Buncamper Molanus wants to know if the Mrs. Laveist mother is receiving social or any other monetary benefits from the Island Government of St. Maarten. If the answer to question one is yes, then please answer the following questions:
1. Since when is the mother of Councilman Louie Laveist receiving this benefit?
2. Has the benefit ever been interrupted?
3. Has the benefit ever been stopped?
4. Has the benefit ever been reduced and if the answer is yes, under which circumstances?
5. In the case of a senior citizen’s request for social welfare:
a. what is the procedure to obtain and renew this benefit;
b. what is the maximum benefit for which the senior citizen is eligible.
c. How is this benefit calculated
6. Who has the authority to decide on who receives a social benefit or not?
7. Does the mother of Councilman Louie Laveist receive a medical expense benefit commonly referred to as a Government Doctor’s card?
If the answer to question 8 is yes, please answer the following questions:
8. As of which date was this doctor’s card issued?
9. Was the doctor’s card ever suspended?
10. What is the procedure to obtain and renew the Government doctor’s card.
11. Who has the authority to decide on who receives a doctor’s card?
Buncamper Molanus in her second letter to the chairman is requesting information pertaining to the passenger arrival from both aircraft and cruise ship.
The council lady said based on an article published in the Daily Herald of July 21 it stated that there is a decline in cruise passenger arrivals. The article mentioned reads
" The cruise sector has seen a double-digit decline in passenger arrivals in the past months. St. Maarten Harbour Group of Companies estimates that economic recovery will come in the next twelve to eighteen months. Harbour Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mark Mingo and Chief Operations Officer (COO) Keith Franca gave their views on the recovery of business from the global economic crisis to Economic Affairs Commissioner Frans Richardson recently."
In order to get a more in-depth view of the situation, kindly provide the following information per quarter:
PJIA:
1. The number of passenger arrivals at PJIA in 2009, during the first two quarters and the projected passenger arrivals for the last two quarters.
2. The projected number of passenger arrivals at PJIA for 2010 per quarter.
3. The number of aircrafts , which arrived at PJIA 2009, during the first and second quarter and the projected aircraft arrivals for the last two quarters of 2009.
4. The projected number of aircraft arrivals at PJIA in 2010.
SMPA
1. The number of cruise passenger arrivals at SMPA in 2009, during the first two quarters and the projected cruise passenger arrivals for the last two quarters.
2. The projected number of cruise passenger arrivals at SMPA for 2010 per quarter.
3. The number of cruise ships calling at SMPA 2009, during the first and second quarter and the projected cruise ship calls at SMPA for the last two quarters of 2009.
4. The projected number of cruise ship calls at SMPA in 2010.