~ SCDF issued a bounced check to SOG. ~
PHILIPSBURG: --- Government Foundation for Government Buildings (SOG) who manages the Festival Village placed a lien on the accounts of the St. Maarten Carnival Development Foundation (SCDF) late last week.
The lien was placed by The Law Firm Collections Services.
SMN News learned that SCDF owed SOG some $10,000,- since April 2019, fees that are owed for the rental of Festival Village for Carnival 2019.
SMN News further understands that SCDF signed an agreement to pay off SOG the sum of $30,000.00 in three equal installments, but the first check issued by SCDF was bounced and was held up at their bank for months before it was returned to SOG, informing the Foundation that the check was bounced. The President of SOG, Kurt Ruan, was contacted who confirmed that the lien was placed, but refrained from giving further details, due to the ongoing process.
According to information, SMN News received SOG has 30 days to file the case against SCDF if payment is not made.
SMN News further understands that SOG sent several warning letters to SCDF prior to placing the lien but all letters were ignored and SCDF has been reluctant to pay their debts.
It must also be noted that SCDF over the years has been trying to overthrow SOG in order to gain Management of the Festival Village but never succeeded because the role of SCDF is to organize Carnival and SOG is a 100% owned foundation who has been providing up to date audit reports of their activities, while SCDF has not been in compliance in providing such.
SMN News will continue to monitor the developments of this story and others that are pending as there are quite some persons who might follow suit in taking SCDF to Court for outstanding funds owed to them by SCDF for Carnival 2019.
