Saunders Welcome Sign not paid for --- procedures were not followed.
PHILIPSBURG:--- There seems to be more in the mortar than in the pestle when it comes to the construction of the FBO section at the Princess Juliana International Airport. SMN News learnt that the Fixed Based Operations (FBO) project that have to be constructed at the Princess Juliana International Airport is creating more problems even though Taliesin Construction legally won the bid. According to information provided to SMN News some five companies were invited by PJIAE to submit their bids for the project. They are Windward Roads. MNO, Design Choice, Taliesin Construction and a Curacao based Construction Company. Of the five Taliesin Construction won the bid but today the construction company it is alleged is having problems executing its work because both the Prime Minister of St. Maarten and leader of the United Peoples Party are upset that PJIAE did not invite LICCOM to participate in the bidding process. Sources said that LICCOM and PJIAE were in court, thus PJIAE did not invite the company to participate in the bidding process.
SMN News learnt that the Prime Minister allegedly sent out a 'text message" to someone informing them that if the contract is not given to LICCOM he will not sign the building permit.
Another issue pending is the remodeling of the Central Bank that Taliesin Construction has to execute because they also won the bid for that project. SMN News learnt that the building permit for this project is also not signed since it has to do with Taliesin Construction.
SMN News highlighted some of these issues in a previous article regarding building permits that are sitting at the Department of VROMI unsigned.
Another issue that is plaguing MP Maurice Lake is the payment that has to be made to 2nd Avenue, the company he instructed to make the "WELCOME Sign" and place it in Saunders. Sources close to the former Minister said the former Minister of VROMI Maurice Lake gave 2nd Avenue instructions to build the sign without following procedures, this they said took place during the 2014 Parliamentary elections. The sources said that there is an outstanding bill for 2nd Avenue for $35,000.00. (NAF.60.000.00). A bill Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs will not sign off since procedures were allegedly not followed.
The source said MP Lake have been sending tons of emails to Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs requesting that he signs off on these payments and advices he left unfinished at the Department of VROMI but PM Gumbs it is alleged refused to deal with anything that seems political or illegal.
SMN News learnt that while Taliesin Construction seems to be having issues to execute its projects, discussions are underway with LICCOM to construct a second prison in Pointe Blanche. SMN News understands that this project will cost some NAF.10M and no bidding took place.
