Philipsburg:--- While the executive council continues to drag its feet with dealing with the final report submitted by the SOAB on the ROB department the island council of St. Maarten still has to address some of the key recommendations given in the report. So far, members of the island council have not requested the report SMN News learnt, while the people of St. Maarten have the right to know what is in the report, it remains concealed thus far. The people of this island ought to know what would be some of the consequences the report would have on their island.
SMN News has learnt that Lt. Governor Franklyn Richards has reserved his rights to send the report over to the prosecutor’s office sometime this week. It is further understood that Richards made clear during the executive council meeting last week Tuesday that members of the executive council should deal with the report if not someone else would deal with it for St. Maarten.
The source said that the Governor informed members of the executive council that this report would affect the obtaining of country status if it is not dealt with. In an invited comment, Prosecutor Rienk Mud said Richards has promised to send to the report to them but they have not received it yet.
The investigators outlined several aspects of wrong doings in this report mainly with the issuance of building permits. In the preliminary report, which was submitted some months ago, they suggested that the executive council hire an interim manager to replace head of the department Joseph Dollison, but so far, the commissioner of ROB (Public Works) Theo Heyliger has not followed any of the advice given by SOAB.
Sources say Heyliger was waiting on the final report to avoid being taken to court by the employees at ROB but recently the commissioner is saying that the investigators focused on certain buildings that were discussed in the island council and they also concluded that there are not sufficient people working for the department. SMN News learnt that the if the rules are strengthened based on the recommendations given by SOAB then every applicant of building permits would be affected.
The SOAB had suggested that there be re-organization in the department. SOAB specifically said the executive council should hire an interim manager who never worked at ROB, this person was supposed to put order in the house.
The SOAB suggested that an inquiry be done on domain affairs to determine how domain land are being distributed, so far that inquiry has not taken place. They also suggest that some internal control be done at the department, which would guarantee that procedures are followed. SOAB also suggest that the executive council should outline all its rules and regulations so that there should be no room for managerial interpretations, while the executive council should make sure that their rules and regulations are followed without exceptions.
SMN News learnt that leader of Government William Marlin met with Commissioner Theo Heyliger on Thursday where he spoke frankly regarding the SOAB report. The source said Marlin already indicated to Heyliger that he has no problem being in opposition and that he Heyliger should deal with the report immediately, SMN News learnt that an extraordinary executive council meeting was also called on Thursday to deal with the SOAB report as well as with the budget.
SMN News was reliably informed that the only person who stands to lose at Public Works is the Director Joseph Dollison. It is further understood that Dollison has already cleaned up his desk as he is planning to go on early retirement but procedures still has to be followed.