~ Providing a plan for relief will take more than two weeks~
PHILIPSBURG: --- Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina in responding to questions by SMN News as to when will his government appoint the management board of NV GEBE, the Prime Minister said he is busy with his legal advisors to ensure the legal framework were followed correctly in the procurement and procedures and ensuring that corporate governance and the articles of incorporation of NV GEBE were respected, all of which are part of the process.
Mercelina said he has a meeting scheduled as early as this week to discuss the management team's appointments.
Regarding the loan negotiations that the Prime Minister initiated with BZK for the purchase of three engines, Mercelina said that while the negotiations have not yet started, St. Maarten must meet certain conditions in order to acquire the loan.
The conditions he said he is expecting are as follows:
• St. Maarten will have to commit to the energy transition for the future, such as renewable and green energy. This includes some environmental requirements, such as considering the energy supply's impact on the environment.
• Quarterly updates must be provided on the purchase of the engines and installation.
• Reports must be provided per the progress and appointment of a full management team.
• A review of the corporate governance is needed to ensure that NV GEBE is healthy.
• The repayment timeframe of the loan will also have to be negotiated, which could range from 25 to 30 years. The interest rates for the loans, which the Prime Minister said could be based on the Netherlands' “international capital market,” will also have to be negotiated.
The Prime Minister was also asked to expound on the relief he plans to provide to the people of St. Maarten since he voted against the motion that was tabled and passed by UPP leader Omar Ottley. Mercelina said he did not vote for the motion because he wanted to remain realistic and not being a popular politician.
At the moment, the government is busy negotiating with someone who could form part of a committee that would begin discussions with the relevant stakeholders. He said these discussions would address the fuel clause that has been affecting everyone, businesses and households.
The Prime Minister said his government is busy discussing the reduction of the fuel clause with its stakeholders, SOL, NV GEBE, The Harbor Group, and Seven Seas.
Asked when he intends to return to the Parliament of St. Maarten to update them on the government’s plans for relief. SMN News reminded the Prime Minister that he was given two weeks by the Chairlady of Parliament to present such plan since both the Chair of Parliament and the Prime Minister voted against the motion, Mercelina said “if you want to be serious with the issue of mitigating the invoices which includes the fuel clause then it its very unrealistic to think that this can be realized in two weeks.”
Mercelina further said it would take more than two weeks to discuss the matter with the five stakeholders that he has to address the matter with. Besides discussing it, he said data would have to be collected and analyzed, and then a second round of discussions would have to take place with proposals and counter proposals. He said he could not imagine having a clear-cut solution in two weeks. Mercelina concluded by saying that he is looking at the motion and has been considering some items in the motion to provide relief.
