St. Martin News Network - PM Will Proceed to Dismiss WINAIR Board.

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Philipsburg:--- Prime Minister Sarah Wescot Williams announced on Wednesday during the Council of Ministers press briefing that she has taken note of the press release issued by the Supervisory board on WINAIR and as such she will use the necessary means available to her to have the board of directors removed. Wescot Williams said while she did not want this discussion to reach public domain she has decided to also provide another management structure for the company since according to her, this procedure is extremely necessary based on the different reports that were made about WINAIR. The Prime Minister said some crucial and critical decisions have to be taken on WINAIR thus the course she started will be pursued. She said based on her understanding from the persons reporting to her, there was a consensus as far as tendering the resignations of the current board members are concerned. She said if that is not so then she will use the other avenues available to her to make sure the change takes place which is in the interest of the company and the workers. While speaking about the reports the Prime Minister refused to shed light on the contents of the reports, however, she said she will be looking at those reports closely.
Wescot Williams said her primary focus right now is to make sure the board is removed and the management structure is looked at, she also confirmed when asked how much scaling back will be done on WINAIR destinations. She said while it is necessary for cutting routes no definite decision has been taken on which routes will be cut. Wescot Williams also made clear that while the Supervisory board suggested that there is need for cash injection for the company to survive, government she said will not be making any such injections unless the issue with the board's resignation is resolved.
While the Prime Minister made her intentions known on Wednesday, she failed to address the letter sent to WINAIR with Michael Ferrier and the implications of the letter.
The supervisory board in their press release questioned the letter that was sent to them they said it is not an official letter from the office of the Prime Minister. An official letter would have been more valid.
Commenters on SMN News are now asking why the letter was not addressed to the Supervisory board of Directors of WINAIR.
The letter which was posted on SMN News states that the adhoc committee is appointed to evaluate and report on the status of WINAIR and make recommendations regarding the airline's future. The PM's letter also states that Ferrier has full authority to act on behalf of the Shareholder, for country St Maarten.
This then raises the legality of the appointment of Ferrier and is this is possible without a Ministerial decree. Would this appointment bring on legal wrangle for new born country St. Maarten?
Is it legally possible for the Prime Minister or any Minister for that matter at the stroke of a pen and unilaterally appoint someone with full authority to take decisions with regards to a Government owned company. While this letter was issued the same day the adhoc committee was installed, it behoves everyone to know why country St. Maarten via its Prime Minister was not able to issue a letter of comfort to WINAIR which would have enabled them to approach their bankers to apply for an overdraft facility on their loans.
SMN News learnt that the management of WINAIR has been asking for this letter for quite some time with no results. The former Government of the Netherlands Antilles as the Shareholder of WINAIR always gave the company such an important letter which allowed the company to continue to have overdraft facilities at its primary bankers. As a result of not issuing this letter the Country St. Maarten as Shareholder is now jeopardizing the future continuity of airlift services, due to this pending matter not being addressed in a timely manner.
It is rumoured that the intention of the Prime Minister is to appoint the committee members to top management positions within the company. If that is to be so then one would have to ask how these persons are going to be compensated and how much will they get when they assume office. The Prime Minister in her statements also said that the WINAIR would have to cut back some of its route meaning that the company may have to send home some its workers. Right now there are 97 persons employed at WINAIR.

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