Philipsburg: --- The SOAB has submitted its final report on the investigation they were conducting on the department of ROB. SMN News has been reliably informed that the two members of the management team had 10 days on which they were to respond to the report.
It is further understood that the department head and its subordinate had requested extra time to complete their answers, which was eventually submitted. SMN News further learnt that the final summary of the report was submitted to the island Lt. Governor Franklyn Richards and leader of government William Marlin. The source said the final report is expected to be delivered sometime this week.
SMN News was informed that those responsible are planning to file criminal charges against those working in the department and were implicated in the report.
SMN News learnt that the report presented by SOAB would have far-reaching consequences on persons applying for building permits. The source said if for some reason a homeowner decides to change the size of their windows, from what is in their permit they would have to re-process their building permits. “the way it is outlined in this report construction would definitely seize and no-one would not be able to build based on the guidelines.”
Some of the findings in the report were outlined in the preliminary report which was issued some months ago advising the executive council to hire an interim manager to manage the department. The investigators in their preliminary report had made it clear that the laws were not followed in the handling of building permits.
Efforts made to contact the island Lt. Governor Franklyn Richards and commissioner Theo Heyliger for a comment proved futile up to press time.