Philipsburg:--- The faction leaders namely leader of the Democratic Party Sarah Wescot Williams, Leader of the National Alliance William Marlin , leader of the UPP Theo Heyliger and independent Island councilman Louie Laviest was invited to the chambers of the Lt. Governor to caucus on the proposal submitted by the executive council for the 2010 budget.In making his presentation finance commissioner Xavier Blackman said the draft budget of 2010 is ready including all the amendments. Blackman also indicated that this is the first time the CFT fully scrutinized the budget as they did this time around and that the 2009 budget was only balanced on paper while it was not in reality.
The commissioner also said that based on the agreements signed in July and December last year on the transfer of tasks the budget was drafted, however the CFT did not agree with what was included in the budget regarding the dismantling of the Netherlands Antilles. The 2010 budget has a net value of 323.6 million guilders with 1.7 million in surplus.
Blackman made clear that in the past government did not follow the laws when it comes to proper financial management and one of the rules they never adhered to was article 110 of the ERNA that states that budgets must be ready and submitted to the island council by May 1 of the preceding year. The commissioner agreed that the CFT did point out some valuable points to them during their discussions on the 2010 budget.
The commissioner said that the CFT had sent several suggestions to the executive council in May 2009, none of which were applied while the Democratic Party was in government. Blackman said while the executive council is responsible for the daily affairs of the island and to make sure that there is proper management they are supposed to also make sure that the right people were in the right positions. Blackman said that since taking office ten months ago he was confronted with several situations regarding civil servants some of whom were even told they were over qualified. Government had to also provide the proper tools for their civil servants including giving them the necessary opportunities for their career development.
While the commissioner presented the budget and took some shots at the previous government the Democratic Party members posed hundreds of questions on the draft budget that was given to them on Tuesday.
Leader of the Democratic Party outlined several areas of the budget that is still questionable to her faction. Wescot Williams gave an outline on the dates on which the budget was to be handled in the central committee and had to be canceled, she said her faction still does not know if the draft budget presented to the council is the one approved by the executive council on November 10 and was submitted to the CFT or if is the one they approved on November 17.
The Democratic Party leader said her faction wants to know when the executive council approved the draft version that was submitted to the council on Tuesday, she made clear that Tuesday's meeting was not about an amendment instead it is a debate on the overall 2010 budget.
The Democratic party wanted the list on immovable properties, settlements that were made by government as well as long term agreements and non public bids. Wescot Williams said they also asked for copies of all agreements that would have financial consequences to government for more than year. She said the executive council had promised to disclose the list on the day the budget will be debated but that too was not upheld.
Island councilman and former finance commissioner Roy Marlin asked for clarity concerning the statements made by commissioner Blackman. Marlin said he wants to see the letters to prove and to support the statements he made regarding that people that were told they were overqualified. Marlin further asked for an explanation as to why the executive council took 36 days to pass on a letter they sent to the council regarding the budget.
Independent Island Councilman Louie Laviest suggested that government take an inventory on its long lease land which was leased out to citizens as well as established businesses. The island councilman said that government should also consider selling the land to the persons who have been occupying the land and make them landowners. Laviest said if government does that then they would have millions in their coffers while they would at the same time empower their people.
The meeting has been adjourned to Thursday where the debate will continue.
