Government stand to lose Naf1.6M per year --- Reliable Sources.
PHILIPSBURG: --- Rainforest Adventures allegedly got what one could describe as a steal of a deal from the interim Minister of VROMI Marcel Gumbs and Leader of the United Peoples Party Theodore Heyliger.
In an advice it is stated that Rainforest Adventures will get 375,000 square meters land in long lease at the Emilio Wilson Estate that the Government of St. Maarten bought for USD17M. The developer Rainforest Adventures will pay government NAF2.00 per square meter instead of the NAF. 6.70 per square meter that locals are paying for their long lease land annually. Rainforest Adventures will be paying NAF.700.000.00 per year instead of NAF. 2.3M meaning the government of St. Maarten will be losing some NAF.1.6M if the deal goes through with Rainforest Adventures. SMN News understands that in exchange for the deal Rainforest Adventures will contribute $1.25 in head tax to assist the St. Maarten Harbor Group of Companies.
SMN News further understands that one of the projects that Rainforest Adventures intend to construct at Emilio Wilson Estate is a zip-line. The developers it is further understood will be constructing other tourist attraction sites but they have not yet made that known to anyone.
In a press briefing held by the National Alliance faction on Thursday the leader of the National Alliance William Marlin stated that he heard of the long lease and advice but said he was waiting to see how much government will least the estate for since government invested $17M to purchase the Emilio Wilson Estate for the people of St. Maarten.
