Fifth Minister has problem with screening --- Three years of taxes were not paid. De Weever to appoint his sister as Minister of VSA --- Reliable Sources.
PHILIPSBURG:--- As the days go by there seems to be more trouble for the UPP/De Weever/LRMarlin coalition government when it comes to forming a government.
SMN News understands that a fifth candidate that was submitted to the governor did not fully pass the screening because that person who is currently acting as a caretaker Minister did not pay his taxes for at least three years. SMN News understands that caretaker Minister of Justice Dennis Richardson has to buckle up and pay up his back taxes. The source said that Minister Richardson has a clean slate except that he did not pay his taxes and he was given the opportunity to clear up his taxes before the governor dots the "I's" and crosses the "T's" on approving him to maintain the Ministry of Justice.
Unconfirmed reports state that Minister Richardson even went to the Tax Department to see if he could make an arrangement to clear up his taxes but the proposal he was given is far too steep for his pockets. SMN News further understands that Minister Richardson is working hard on getting his tax slate fully cleaned up and that will be done in order for him to remain as Minister of Justice.
What is incredible and beyond understanding is that hundreds of businesses on St. Maarten get away without paying their taxes and other dues to government, APS and SZV and even developers get ten years tax holiday when they decide to invest on St. Maarten but someone who served St. Maarten's in its highest capacity has to have a clean slate with the tax department before he can continue to serve his country. Some two years ago it was discovered that a pharmacy operated on St. Maarten for some 25 years and was never registered at the Chamber of Commerce and also did not pay one dime in taxes.
Now that Petrus Leroy de Weever failed the screening process, SMN News understands that Member of Parliament Cornelius de Weever has decided to appoint his sister Keturah de Weever to take up the Ministerial post. Keturah de Weever works in the Minister's cabinet; she was also a former Social Studies teacher at the St. Maarten Academy.
In the Caribbean there is a well known saying that says "blood is thicker, than water" but in St. Maarten politics it seems as though self preservation and what could be in it for each elected politician is more important than competence. According to information provided to SMN News, the UPP leader Theodore Heyliger wanted to appoint Miguel de Weever as a Minister but he is blocked by his own coalition partner MP Cornelius de Weever who is doing his best to appoint members of his family to keep Miguel de Weever from becoming a Minister. As indicated in the law two blood relatives cannot serve in Council of Ministers at the same time and vise versa in parliament.
One would ask why "Connie" would do such a thing to his brother who has been working in government for years and is currently the Secretary General for the Ministry of TEATT. The source said that while Connie and Miguel are brothers there is one thing that must be understood and that is "Connie" is looking to run again in the 2018 Parliamentary Elections, therefore he has to do any and everything to ensure that none of his other relatives beat him at the polls including his brother Miguel de Weever.
