Philipsburg:--- While chiding the media on Wednesday and accusing members of the media for irresponsible journalism Minister Roland Duncan told reporters on Wednesday that his oral instructions on the continuation of the Brooks Tower Accord is as good as any policy. Minister Duncan said there is no need for a policy on the extension of the BTA project since no policy has changed but a Minister he said, has a lot of discretion and if he gives oral instruction it is as valid as any other decree. “There is no need for any written decree on God knows what, the issue with the BTA is that forgeries were made and it has nothing to do with policies since monies were paid.” The Minister further said that the current investigation has to do with criminal actions and that there is nothing wrong with what happened with the BTA since no new categories were created.
While Minister Duncan said there is no need for a policy to extend the BTA procedure, a judge ruled against a BTA applicant mostly because the Minister did not have a policy in place which authorizes the BTA team to accept new applications.
Besides that, former Lt. Governor Franklyn Richards had written a letter last year to former Minister of Justice Magali Jacoba telling her that unless she puts in place a process description into her BTA policy it would not have gotten his approval and signature as Lt. Governor of St. Maarten. Furthermore, SMN News has been reliably informed that the former chief of the Lt Governor’s cabinet Ligia Stella who is now working in the justice ministry refused to work on the BTA extension created by Minister Duncan for the lack of a policy and proper framework.
In the meantime, the six members of the National Alliance Faction have sent a letter to the Chairlady of Parliament Gracita Arrindell requesting an urgent meeting of Parliament to discuss the Developments surrounding the continuation of the Brooks Tower Accord.
Leader of the National Alliance William Marlin said there is an urgent reason for the Minister of Justice to give account to parliament as well as to the people of St. Maarten regarding the recent developments and the BTA extension. Marlin said he knows how the Brooks Tower started and it was almost to the end when out of the clear blue there was a continuation and or extension to the BTA which is not clear to his faction and the people of St. Maarten. Marlin said parliament also would need to know what guidelines the BTA team had to follow and who are the persons that were deemed qualified.
Marlin said when one hears that people who have been living on the island for the past two or three years received a BTA permit under the new guidelines that raises eyebrows. Marlin said besides the recent arrests Parliament also wants to know what prompted The Minister to reopen a new track of the BTA procedure.
We urge our readers to take the time out to listen to Minister Duncan as he talks about the BTA and the media on Wednesday morning. Also in the same audio is leader of the National Alliance faction William Marlin.
Letter submitted by the National Alliance faction for Parliament meeting.
