Philipsburg: --- Leader of the Democratic Party Sarah Wescot Williams told reporters at a press conference on Tuesday that the executive council has contradicted itself when they answered questions posed to them about the Solid Waste Disposal Facility as well as the voting of the proposals. Wescot Williams said during the voting the executive council voted in favor of the sub-amendment to their proposal which was submitted by the Democratic Party faction but they voted against the amendment itself. She said based on the rules of order the island council had to vote on the sub-amendment, then the amendment prior to voting on the proposal itself.
Furthermore she said she purposely asked the executive council if Windward Roads had already submitted a proposal and she was told no proposal has been submitted by the contractor since they are awaiting the assignment given to KEMA. Wesocot Williams further explained that terms of reference from government about the KEMA assignment states that KEMA is charged with evaluating the tender documents as well as the October proposal of Windward Roads. She said she wants to know how the executive council can tell the island council on May 10 that they do not have a proposal, yet their terms of reference states that KEMA has to issue an advice on the proposal submitted by Windward Roads in October. Wescot Williams said when her faction asked about the Health Impact Assessment Study they were told that the island council or central committee would only have access to the document in synchronization with KEMA. The island council lady said they were also told that the executive council did not approve the Impact Study as yet but she wants to know why this report cannot be made available to the island council since the study was conducted.
Another concern for the Democratic Party is if the Solid Waste Disposal Facility would be responsible for the picking up of garbage or if government still has to contract private entities to pick up garbage. Wescot Williams said as an island council member she wants to know if the facility would be responsible for the picking up of garbage throughout the island.
She said if that is case then government has to also say for what time frame these entities would be contracted. The leader of the Democratic Party said government is yet to say what would be EDC's involvement in the entire process.
Wescott Williams said the executive council still has to tell them what would be the water capacity of the Great Salt Pond after the construction of the Ring Road. Another concern for the Democratic Party is the alternative solution for the location of the facility.
Wescot Williams made clear that they do not want this new plant to become a second Intaquin which was used as a political football, neither does the Democratic Party want to be accused of stalling the process of such a project which is of urgent need to St. Maarten. She said the Intaquin saga has left St. Maarten without a sewage facility.
