MORE QUESTIONS THAN ANSWERS IN BROOKS DISMISSAL—MARLIN STANDS BY HIS STATEMENTS.

The energy commissioner said that he requested a central committee meeting be held where the supervisory board, managing director as well as the shareholder representatives would be able to say exactly why they believe Brooks must go before his five year contract is up. In delivering some of the answers to questions posed by the National Alliance Marlin said that he would stand by his position where he said Brooks needs to go home since he failed to properly manage the government owned company. He said when the Island Council is given the answers they are looking for by the supervisory board then they would be able to make their own decision which he would respect.

One of the questions posed by leader of the National Alliance William Marlin is if the executive council is aware of the dismissal plan and what is their opinion. The NA leader also wants to know if the executive council has seen the letter that was sent to Brooks and if they sanctioned the decision. He said even though the decision does not lie in the hands of the island government it is their responsibility to make sure that locals who returned to the island be given a fair chance to perform.
Marlin said he wanted to know if the former chairman of the supervisory board (Roy Marlin) had any influence on the present supervisory board when he made his public call saying that he wants Brooks' head. Marlin also asked how often commissioner Marlin would meet with the supervisory board, shareholder, and managing director.

He asked if an investigation was done into the fuel shortage that took place last December and what is the outcome of that investigation. Island councilman Patrick Ilidge, wants to know what type of background information the executive council has on the dismissal of Brooks and if they were in communication with those involved. Illidge said in his opinion he feels an in-dept investigation is warranted to determine the facts surrounding the dismissal of the local engineer. Illidge warned the commissioner to provide facts concerning Brooks, he warned that the population deserved respect and they must be told the truth about GEBE. He said he felt that the executive council would have acted responsibly by trying to assercertain the facts pertaining to the dismissal and not allows the people to speculate. Illidge said he personally did his own little investigation on the matter and he is amazed at what he found. Even though not divulging that information he said he would give the executive council the opportunity to explain matters to the island council.

Also posing questions to Commissioner Marlin is Island Councilman Rudolph Samuel who wanted to know if Marlin or the supervisory board ever did an evaluation on the performance on Brooks who have taken up office some two years ago. Samuel said this is the only way the island council or the people of St. Maarten would know if Brooks was performing his job optimally. He said this is not the first time the National Alliance has to stand on the floor of the island council and defend local professionals. He said he wants to know if the present DP executive council has modus oprandi to remove locals from the job force. He said he can clearly remember when commissioner Marlin made his public plea and it was during the time when GEBE ran out of fuel sending the island in total darkness. Samuel said it has to be made clear that neither the island government, the supervisory board of GEBE neither the managing director of the company is not responsible for the purchasing of fuel instead that responsibility lies with SOL Antilles.

Samuel said he was made aware that SOL Antilles who is responsible for providing fuel to GEBE sold that much needed fuel to hotels, yachts and leave the island utility company without. He asked the commissioner of energy to make some clarifications on these information. He also wants to know if Marlin was on the fundraising committee for the University of St. Maarten (USM) while being chairman of the supervisory board of GEBE. Reason for bringing this to the forefront Samuel believes that the commissioner or probably other are on some plot to get rid of Brooks since there are times he has to take firm decisions.
He said their was a barge of fuel on the island and was to sold to other persons who paid more monies. He asked that the executive council to provide clarity on this issue.
Commissioner Marlin admitted that he personally witnessed SOL selling heavy fuel to two yachts but he did not know there would have been a shortage of fuel on the island. He said it is a fact that a barge of fuel was in port and was sold to other persons but had he had prior information that would not have taken place.
Marlin said SOL Antilles informed the managing director of GEBE of the shortage since November 28th and had Brooks taken action then the island would have speared the 20 hours of darkness.
The commissioner said it was not until December 14 while on his way to Curacao he was informed by Brooks that there is a crisis looming over GEBE and the island. He said he felt that Brooks who was on his way to Aruba should have cancelled his trip and deal with the situation at hand since it pertains to the island and its people.
Marlin said he was the one who informed the governor and also made contact with Statia Terminals and other distributers who managed to assist the island, something he felt Brooks could have done or if he had informed him earlier the crisis would have been prevented. He said he personally wrote the SOL Antilles and sought clarity on the situation. He said while he blamed SOL for their shortfall he felt Brooks had neglected his call of duty.
On the issue of him being on the USM fundraising committee he said he was never part of the committee but he did made a request to GEBE Supervisory board for $100, 000 as a donation for USM. Marlin said he even had to request that the minutes of that meeting be altered since it had said he insisted that USM be given the extra monies as a donation.

Island Councilman Frans Richardson also posed several questions to the executive council, but before doing so he read out a number of headlines relating to GEBE over the past two years. Richardson also read parts of an article that was published on the Washington Times, where GEBE former managing director Julius Lambert was quoted as saying that the island utility company is managing growth.
Richardson said the former managing director and now chairman of the supervisory board went through the same symmetric as Brooks that is going through today since others came to St. Maarten on a private jet from Curacao to get rid of Lambert. He said it behooves him to see that the same Lambert is putting someone else through the same ordeal. He said according to him Lamberts appointment to the supervisory board as chairman is illegal according to book 2 as well as the ordinance of good cooperate governance which was carried earlier by the island council.
Richardson also indicated that this is no type of message to send to the youths of St. Maarten who are furthering their studies abroad and who are being encouraged to return home.
Marlin maintained that he would not be providing all the answers as requested by the National Alliance Faction. He said he believes that it would be better and more clarity would be given in a central committee meeting where all parties would be present and the NA faction can quiz those involved in the dismissal process.