HARBOUR VIEW:--- On December 18, 2013, the Steering Committee Integrity Inquiry which was installed by Governor Holiday on December 4, 2013 held its first meeting. During the meeting, which took place via video conference, the Governor and the Committee members – Dr. Marten Oosting (chairman), Mr. Jaime Saleh and Mr. Miguel Alexander accompanied by the members of the secretariat – discussed various issues related to the content of the inquiry, the plans to invite an international accounting firm to conduct the inquiry and the planning. Today, December 20, 2013, Governor Holiday following extensive preparation sent invitations to tender to four New York based accounting firms, inviting them to participate in the tender which is to result in the engagement of one of international accounting firms to conduct the forensic inquiry investigation.
The purpose of the inquiry is threefold: to collect data and information for assessment based on integrity requirements in accordance with the rule of law in a democratic society, to report the findings from the assessment and finally to make recommendations that add value to the functioning of the public administration of Sint Maarten.
The accounting firm that will be selected to execute the inquiry will issue an interim progress report within three months and the final inquiry report of its findings and recommendations within six months of its engagement to the Governor. The process of the integrity inquiry will conclude with the presentation of the final report to the Kingdom Council of Ministers by Governor Holiday.
Further information and developments regarding the inquiry will be made public by the Governor through the Cabinet of the Governor.
From the Cabinet of the Governor of St. Maarten
