~ Moratorium on granting of Casino licenses was not lifted.
PHILIPSBURG: --- Minister of TEATT Grisha Heyliger Marten confirmed on Wednesday at the Council of Ministers press briefing that the moratorium on the granting of casino licenses was not lifted when she granted a casino license to Port de Plaisance some two weeks ago.
Heyliger Marten said that Port de Plaisance was in the position of a "stand-alone" license that has since moved to the Sunset building in Simpson Bay.
When SMN News asked the Minister to explain how she could grant a second license to Port de Plaisance, it does not meet the requirement by law to have a casino on the hotel grounds since Port de Plaisance does not meet the legal requirement of having 200 rooms or 65% of those rooms available, Port de Plaisance currently has 80 rooms or 40% of the required amount in operation.
Heyliger Marten said he granted the permit to Port de Plaisance based on a promised letter that was given to the businessman by former Minister of TEATT, who was appointed by the United Peoples Party Arthur Leo Lambrix. Heyliger Marten said the letter issued to the businessman by Lambriex indicated that the resort must meet at least 65% of the required number of rooms. The Minister said the TEATT Ministry assured her that the requirements were met; however, when SMN News checked last week, the resort only had 80 rooms in operation, and they are now preparing to construct some other rooms, yet the license has been granted illegally.
SMN News then asked the Minister to explain her judgment and decision-making based on a letter from the former Minister to a businessman. However, the Minister ordered an investigation into the issuance of several taxis and bus licenses by the same former Minister.
Heyliger Marten said she did not order any investigation into the issuance of the bus and taxi licenses. Still, instead, it was SOAB and the Integrity Chamber who knocked on her door and requested to do the audit and investigation.
Heyliger Marten said she did announce that she would have investigated but later pulled back.
SOAB and the Integrity Chamber issued their report to the government (TEATT Ministry), highlighting that the former Minister of TEATT did not follow the law on issuing the licenses. Both entities stated in their report that they noticed noncompliance on several levels and that the applications for the bus and taxi licenses were incomplete.
