PHILIPSBURG:--- The Democratic Party faction in Parliament expresses its concern regarding the information made public on SMN News website which indicates that the Minister supported by the United People's Party Minister Maurice Lake has entered into an agreement with the Vorst family to purchase a parcel of land in Cay Hill for an amount in excess of Nafl 10 million guilders. The Democratic Party faction calls on Minister Maurice Lake to provide full disclosure surrounding this decision. The Democratic Party has also taken note of a request dated June 23, 2014 submitted by the National Alliance faction requesting the Chairperson of Parliament to convene an urgent meeting of Parliament regarding this matter. The members of the Democratic Party faction supports this call for the urgent meeting and request the Chairlady to consider calling this meeting post haste. In the words of Minister Maurice Lake, full disclosure, transparency and openness are needed at this point and time to the Parliament of St. Maarten. Minister Maurice Lake should be able to provide to the members of Parliament way prior to this meeting being convened at least the following information which should be readily available:
- The legal advice from the Legal Affairs Department regarding the purchase of the property
- The advice from the Ministry of VROMI regarding the purchase of the property
- Any and all appraisal reports regarding the property which were commissioned by either the Minister, the Ministry of VROMI, the Vorst family or any other entity substantiating the agreed upon purchase price.
- The decision from the Council of Ministers authorizing the Minister to enter into the agreement
- The advice from the Ministry of Finance and or the financial controller at the Ministry of VROMI indicating that funding has been set aside to allow this purchase to take place.
- In accordance with the signed agreement article 7 subject 1.1. it states "purchaser (Minister Lake) has full capacity, right, power and authority to execute deliver and perform under this contract and all documents to be executed by purchaser pursuant hereto" The Minister should be able to provide this information prior to the meeting in the interest of transparency, openness and good governance.
DP Press Release