PHILIPSBURG:--- Caretaker Prime Minister and Member of Parliament Sarah Wescot Williams dispatched an email to the President of Parliament with several questions to caretaker Minister Maurice Lake. Wescot Williams said in her email that the island has been gripped again with another saga this time involving a government owned entity. Below is the full text of the email sent to the President of Parliament.
Honorable Chairperson of Parliament,
In the past few days, St. Maarten has been in the grip of yet another saga, this time involving the government entity, the St. Maarten Housing Development Foundation (SMHDF).
Accusations are flying left and right and consequently, St. Maarten is again being portrayed negatively and persons on both sides of the spectrum are being maligned. There is a hardening of positions, and seemingly a growing culture of divisiveness and even aggression.
It is my faction's belief that much of the pandemonium could be avoided if the general public is provided with unbiased and official information.
Through you, Mr. Chairman, I submit the following brief and direct questions to the Minister, responsible for Housing, the honorable Mr. Maurice Lake.
- Has the Director of the SMHDF been suspended? If yes, why and since when?
- Is the Board of the SMHDF currently legally constituted? Who are the members?
- Which is the last annual report the minister has received from the SMHDF?
- Has any other report been commissioned on SMHDF? If so, by whom and why. And again, if so, please provide Parliament with a copy of such.
- Finally, what is government's official position on the recent developments at SMHDF?
Kindly impress upon the Minister the urgent need for full disclosure, as we can ill afford this situation spinning completely out of control.
A hard copy of this request will follow.
Respectfully,
Sarah Wescot-Williams
MP (DP)
