Philipsburg:--- Island Councilman and former finance commissioner Roy Marlin posed several questions to the executive council concerning the purchase of five new vehicles which was purchased for the new commissioners. Marlin said his faction has called the meeting to address the financial and economic situation of the island because clarity is needed in several areas.
On the issue of financial supervision, Marlin posed several questions regarding the submitting of the first and second quarterly reports, which he said are both due. The councilman said prior to the NA/Heyliger took office the DP executive council had taken
a number of initiatives which resulted from the agreements made between St. Maarten and its Kingdom Partners.
Marlin said while St. Maarten excelled on aspects such as corporate governance legislation, establishing of the council for corporate governance, changes to the articles of incorporation of government owned companies, they cannot should not drop the ball.
As for the management of government finances, the ball is slipping from St. Maarten hands and if this should happen it could not be retrieved the council member warned.
Marlin said the politicians in the second chamber are constantly screaming that St. Maarten is not ready and even though he disagrees with them and would ask them to bring their issues forward, local politicians should not drop the ball by not living up to the agreements that were made.
The Executive Council is due to the Island Council in accordance with the Algemene Maatregel van Rijksbestuur two sets of quarterly reports on the budget 2009. The quarterly report for the period January to March, which was due on May 15, 2009 and the quarterly report for the period April to June, which is due by August 15.
Marlin called on the chairman, of the island council to perform his duty by supplying them with the necessary information regarding financial supervision. He said in the case of Algemene Maatregel van Rijksbestuur which is a law of higher order should be complied by the chairman have a role to play in this, by requesting the departments to supply the information and then submit it to the Island Council single handedly.
The former finance commissioner wants to know if the first and second reports have been submitted to the CFT and if why wasn’t this in accordance with AMVRB submitted simultaneously to the Island Council. If they were not submitted when will this be done?
He also wants to know if the CFT written any letters to the Executive council regarding the quarterly reports, or a reaction and if those letters can be provided to the island council.
Marlin said the current commissioner of finance said he intends to submit a budget with a deficit. He said he wants to know if the new commissioner read the begrotings kader that was established for budget submittal whereby it clearly states that a budget should be balanced or sluitend?
He said he wants to know what measured the executive council plans to undertake to balance the 2010 budget and if the island people would be confronted with an increase on services. He also wants to know how the executive council plans to deal with the shortfall when presenting it’s annual accounts and how would be covered in terms of liquidity.
Marlin said he also wants to know if the executive council submitted a formal request to the CFT and the Ministry of Kingdom relations to present the 2010 budget with a shortfall. If the answer to his question is yes, can they receive a copy of this request? Have these two entities already answered this request from executive council can they also receive a copy of their answers?
He asked if a formal request was submitted to the CFT for the delay in presenting the 2010 budget and if they responded. If the answers are yes, he is also requesting copies.
What is the status on the SOAB report for the debt cancellation? Is this report completed and can the island council be provided with a copy. If the report is not completed when would it be finalized?
Marlin said the executive council recently purchased five new cars for an amount of about Naf. 400.000, for the commissioners. He asked if the purchase of the these vehicles were necessary
Is this amount the correct amount for the purchase of the cars and on what date were the cars delivered or on what date did the Executive council take possession of the cars?
On what date did the executive council give approval for the purchase of these vehicles? What was the opinion of the Finance department on the purchase of the vehicles?
The commissioner of tourism recently signed an agreement with USONA for the first phase of the tourism marketing for 864.000 whereby he stated that they would expect a 7% growth. I applaud this, but he would want to suggest that executive take back in those cars, and take that 400.000 and put it towards marketing. Then we will have a 10.5 % growth, which will guarantee at the least that in these hard economic times, the small man may remain employed, the business community may see some light at the end of the tunnel.
Were the vehicles delivered prior to executive council approving the decision? If yes who authorized the delivery or signed for receipt of the vehicles?
Marlin wants to know how many persons were hired since the National Alliance/Heyliger government took office. What is the total additional monthly salary cost in connection with the new hiring’s?
Are we still maintaining the policy of maximum six persons to work with the Commissioner office, three from outside and three from inside?
If this policy has changed, can they be provided with a copy of this new policy?