Marigot: --- At least three elected officials from the territorial council and members of the executive board of the Tourist Office walked out of an executive board meeting on Wednesday afternoon after the President of the EPIC Ida Zin Ka Ieu ended up in an argument with first Vice President Daniel Gibbs. According to information, reaching SMN News Gibbs showed up at the board meeting after more than a year of staying away from the tourist office.
The source said even though Gibbs was invited to all the meetings he kept away from them since former director Yann Claysen was removed from his position. On Wednesday, the board was called to discuss at least two agenda points, which are the subventions, and to take decisions on pending contracts.
It is understood board members and territorial councilors Alain Richardson and Jean David Richardson called the meeting to order when they realized that Zin Ka Ieu and Gibbs were engaged in a heated confrontation.
SMN News has been reliably informed that opposition leader and member of the executive council Alain Richardson called on all the board members to walk out of the meetings to send a clear message to both Gibbs and Zin Ka Ieu who are at rift. Richardson it is understood said the walk out on Wednesday is to protest against the attitude of the EPIC president and to demand respect for each member of the executive board.
The source said that Alain Richardson made clear that the ongoing war between the two councilors representing tourism is not benefitting tourism and it is not conducive to St. Maarten. It is further understood that the EPIC president then took a turn at Alain Richardson telling him he was free to leave and he has her permission to go over on the Dutch side of the island and broadcast what took place during the meeting.
Alain Richardson on a number of occasions has said that Gibbs and Zin Ka Ieu have to resolve their problems if they are to work in the interest of St. Martin, but seeming no one took heed until Wednesday.
SMN News further understands that when Gibbs was given the floor to speak at the beginning of the meeting he said that it is of vital importance for his pole and the Office du Tourism to work together in the interest of tourism and St. Martin but somehow that did not sit well with the EPIC president. The source said it was clear that Zin Ka Ieu and Gibbs are not able to work together and the display that took place at the Tourist Office on Wednesday can well happen at one of the trade shows if the two are ever together representing St. Martin overseas.
SMN News has learnt that Gibbs accused Zin Ka Ieu of working illegally during the past year since he did not approve of the projects she executed during his absence. The source said Gibbs even told the EPIC president that he would be requesting an audit for the period she presided the EPIC board.
In the meantime, SMN News also learnt that that the EPIC president and her current director of Office du Tourism Corine Picaut are at odds.
In an invited comment, Zin Ka Ieu told SMN News that she would not be making any comments on what took place on Wednesday. "I have no comment and I am going to leave those who want to talk about the events of the meeting talk." Zin Ka Ieu said. While Jean David Richardson said, he agreed with the statements made by Alain Richardson during the meeting and he left simply because the orde du jour was not respected.
Efforts made to contact leader of the RRR and territorial council Alain Richardson on Friday for a comment proved futile.
