PHILIPSBURG: --- The National Alliance Faction in Parliament has given Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs two weeks to gather all information regarding the St. Maarten Housing Development Foundation if not actions will be taken against the Prime Minister for failure to provide information to Parliament.
In the continuation meeting held on Tuesday Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs informed Parliament that he did not receive the information they requested from the St. Maarten Housing Development Foundation (SMHDF). The Prime Minister said the only document he had in his possession was the letter sent to the Managing Director Henry Lynch and Emilio Kalmeria who were suspended then terminated on February 4th 2015. The meeting on Tuesday was a continuation meeting to discuss the suspension of the managing director and director finances of SMHDF, and why did the former Minister of VROMI Maurice Lake chose to stop a forensic investigation that the board of SMHDF commissioned with SOAB. The meeting was requested by Members of Parliament of the National Alliance Faction.
In a point of order during the meeting MP William Marlin informed the chair of Parliament that on January 26th 2015 the Prime Minister indicated to Parliament that as soon as he has more information from SMHDF he will forward it to the Parliament of St. Maarten but that did not take place up until Tuesday when the meeting was called for the third time. MP Marlin said that it's almost two months now the documents were promised and prior to continuing with the meeting he wants to know if the Prime Minister was in possession of the remaining documents that parliament requested.
Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs then informed Parliament that he did not get any documents Parliament requested. He said the only document he had was the letter given to the persons that were suspended/dismissed. Prime Minister Gumbs said he had no problem sharing that document with Parliament. Prime Minister Gumbs further stated that he requested SMHDF to provide government with several documents including the articles of the incorporation for the foundations, the audit reports and the copy of the assignment letter to SOAB and copy of the letter or email to SOAB by former Minister Maurice Lake to halt the investigation. Prime Minister Gumbs said that he did not receive any of the documents he requested even though he sent a follow up letter to the SMHDF and SMHFF.
Therefore, Member of Parliament and leader of the National Alliance William Marlin asked that the meeting be adjourned for another two weeks which will give the Prime Minister enough time to get the information Parliament requested in order for Parliament to have a proper debate.
MP Marlin said based on the information provided by the Prime Minister he wants to make clear that it is Parliament's duty to supervise government. He said that SMHDF is not a government owned company instead it's a foundation and if they cannot get pertinent information they requested then what should Parliament do? MP Marlin further questioned how they could proceed with the meeting and having a sensible debate? He made clear that it is unacceptable that three months after a crucial situation the Prime Minister showed up in Parliament empty handed. MP Marlin proposed that the meeting be adjourned again which would give the Prime Minister a second chance to get the information from the SMHDF. He said that if the Prime Minister cannot secure the information they requested then they will have to take another route or take other actions since it is unacceptable for the Prime Minister to show up to Parliament without the necessary information they requested. MP Marlin also insisted that a date be set for the continuation of the meeting and to ensure that he sent the requested documents before the meeting is called again.
MP Leona Marlin Romeo asked that the Prime Minister bring to Parliament the financials for the years 2011, 2012, and 2013 since three persons were dismissed from their functions and according to her this information can be found online.
The meeting will reconvene on April 7th 2015 at 2pm.
