PHILIPSBURG:--- Leader of the Party for Progress (PFP) leader Mellissa Gumbs in her address to parliament indicated that her faction intends to submit a motion of no confidence against the Minister of VROMI Egbert Jurendy Doran.
Gumbs in her presentation to parliament in round one explained the reasons that her faction has decided to such the motion. She referred to the report submitted on the Systemic Investigation on the garbage contracts tender process.
The MP said that based on the contents of the Ombudsman report it can clearly be seen as “bid-rigging”, especially with the contents of the Terms of Reference for the tender.
PFP MP Raeyhon Peterson said the Minister operates a Gestapo management of the Ministry of VROMI. He said civil servants that do not do what the Minister wants to get a warning letter. He said there is blatant nepotism since he has issued land to friends and family while securing contracts for persons within NV GEBE.
Independent Member of Parliament Christopher Emmanuel in his presentation said he was not surprised by the Ombudsman report as he asked questions regarding the bidding process for the garbage contracts.
Members of Parliament asked the Minister several questions regarding the Ministry of VROMI mainly the tender procedures he met when he took office and what has he had done to change the procedure since there was no policy in place.
The Minister asked the Parliament of St. Maarten for a period of two weeks to prepare the answers. He informed parliament that his ministry is short-staffed and that he would need the time to do the necessary research in order to provide the parliament of St. Maarten with the answers to the questions they posed.
Chairlady of Parliament Grisha Heyliger Marten tried to force the Minister to answer the questions immediately and even questioned him if he needed two weeks to answer 21 questions.
The Minister maintained his stance that he needed a minimum of two weeks to put the answers together, he informed the chairlady that he should be granted the time he asked for since the rules of order nor the constitution of St. Maarten have not changed.
