"We have not taken a Decision on the report" --- Stein.
PHILIPSBURG:--- Prime Minister Sarah Wescot Williams started off the New Year well by being more open and transparent. On Wednesday just after the Council of Ministers' weekly press conference, the Prime Minister distributed copies of the decision rendered by the Council of State to the Minister of Plenipotentiary who asked them questions on the Royal Decree issued by the Kingdom Council of Ministers ordering the Governor of St. Maarten to conduct an investigation on integrity within the Government of St. Maarten. Besides the investigation that is conducted by the Governor, the Government of St. Maarten installed a committee to conduct their own integrity investigation while they also contracted the services of Transparency International to conduct a systemic investigation. Wescot Williams told reporters on Wednesday that the General Audit Chamber will be conducting a similar investigation which will be made public since they report to the Parliament of St. Maarten.
SMN News reporter asked Prime Minister Wescot-Williams to say what measures if any were taken with the ongoing investigation against the head of VDSM James Richardson who has been suspended since it became known that monies are missing from the institution.
Wescot Williams said that the Government of St. Maarten gave the SOAB report to the Public Prosecutor's Office in order for them to study the report and take a decision on whether or not they will prosecute.
Attorney General of St. Maarten Taco Stein confirmed to SMN News that they received the report in early December 2013. Stein said the Prosecutor's Office have not taken any decision on what they will do regarding the head of VDSM.