Philipsburg: ---- The island receivers would hold off its planned auction on Friday at the Westin Resort for the unpaid room tax dating back from 2004 to 2009 confirmed head of the Island Receivers Sherry Hazel. Hazel said she was informed early Friday morning that the lawyers managed to come to an agreement. She said Westin would put the monies owed to the island recievers in an escrow account pending the outcome of a court case which should be called within the next two weeks . "We would put off the auction until that court case is heard".
In the meantime, Leader of Government William Marlin is furious at the statements made by former commissioner of finance and tourism Roy Marlin on the Westin affair. Marlin said the current executive council the National Alliance/Heyliger and Laveist government has nothing to do with the letter of comfort given to Westin on March 11, 2005. Marlin said the Democratic Party Executive council had four years to change the room tax ordinance as they promised the Westin but that government did nothing to aid resort or to live up to their promise. According Marlin the former executive council had promised Westin to amend the room tax ordinance by mid 2005, which would allow Westin to qualify for a waiver on the room taxes. Marlin said the former executive council also made the same kind of promise to other resorts as well.
Marlin further explained that on November 6 2008 the Westin sent the executive council a letter regarding the so called letter of comfort and the Democratic Party Executive Council took a decision on January 22 2009 to write a letter to Westin notifying them that the executive council would not be able to honor the letter of comfort and as such they would have to pay what is owed to the island receivers office.
The letter he said states that the executive council has denied their request since the room tax ordinance remains unchanged therefore they would have to pay what is owed to island receivers.
Marlin said while a decision was taken by the former executive council on January 22 2009 that letter was sent to Westin on June 30 2009 creating the impression that this current government is involved in Westin demise.
Marlin said his government had absolutely no knowledge of the Westin's affair. He said that someone from Westin called him personally and requested answers from him after they received the letter. Marlin said it was then he asked Westin to provide the letter that was sent to them and he did some research to see what the actual problem was. Ever since then the current government has been trying to find a solution to the problem Marlin explained. According to the letter sent to Westin it states that the room tax ordinance is still undergoing revision, and the existing room tax ordinance makes no provision for the granting of exemptions and or waivers. It is also states that whenever the changes are made the Westin can apply for tourism incentives but that would not apply prior to the changes. As such, Westin must settle all its outstanding taxes and penalties with the island receiver's office forthwith to avoid any type of actions.
Marlin said he neither any member of his government did not go to the media to discuss this matter and the former commissioner is now trying to create the impression that they (Democratic Party) did all in their power to assist Westin. Marlin called on the island council member Roy Marlin to come clean and tell the people what his government did to the investor. He said Island Council man Roy Marlin said in one media report that the National Alliance/Heyliger/ Laveist government need to stop playing politics and deal with the issue at hand. Marlin said he wants to make clear that his government is currently busy cleaning up yet another mess that was created by the Democratic Party. Marlin said he wants to make crystal clear to the people of St. Maarten that the Democratic Party did not lift up one good finger to live up to their promise to Westin.
Marlin said his government is busy trying to settle this matter in an amicable way and they do not want any type of public fighting since that is not creating a good image for St. Maarten.
Marlin also made clear that his government would not take the blame for the Westin affair not even in the spirit of Christmas. In the meantime, lawyers for the island government and the Westin Resort were locked in a meeting on Thursday night to work out an agreement to stop the planned auction. Should there be an agreement SMN News will update its readers.