PHILIPSBURG:--- Member of Parliament George Pantophlet says that the people of St. Maarten need a real New Year's gift where GEBE is concerned. The good news that the long awaited transfer to St. Maarten of all the shares of the Electricity Company is one thing but in how much this will be reflected in the pockets of the consumers is another. The Member of Parliament is just sending a reminder of the statements he had made on this fact that GEBE although subsidizing the two islands Saba and St Eustatius was reportedly making huge profits. Not to forget those who are probably stealing electricity but in spite of this GEBE still makes huge profits. What the Member of Parliament is reiterating is that the millions that are being disbursed to subsidize Saba and St. Eustatius should be used to reduce the tariffs or the fuel costs. Whichever is legal, logical and beneficial to the people of St. Maarten. The Member said that many arrears on St. Maarten looks like a country recovering from a devastating hurricane. There are barely any lights much less Christmas lights and decorations. And we all know some of the causes. People don't have the money to spend on these things. Another reason is the COLA is and in addition to that the fact that government did not pay their usual Christmas Bonus. Of course they will say no money. Well the Member of Parliament says he knows 100 million reasons why. Before continuing he must remind employers to as much as possible pay their employees before the Christmas Holidays. It should not be as the Member has often heard that some employers say that the employee might spend all his/her monies and then by New Year is broke. This is the responsibility of the employee not the employer. As a matter of fact the reality is that these monies will be spent in their business. Back to the GEBE issue, this process has been a lengthy discussion, I understood since 2005. But now that it has been finalized the Member of Parliament is looking forward to the people of St. Maarten benefiting from this transaction. What he hopes to see established if this has not already happened is the value of the assets on the two islands. According to reports, after a five year transition period the two islands will have to buy these back from GEBE Company which by then will be solely owned by St. Maarten. Finally the actual buyout cost for St. Maarten should be made known. So he hopes that the people of St. Maarten will receive a real New Year's gift for 2014. Happy Holidays.
