Philipsburg:--- Members of the Corporate Governance council have finally decided to speak out against the resistance they are receiving from the government of St. Maarten. Four of the five members of the council told reporters on Friday that the council was installed 14 months ago and they are yet to be given a budget or an office space to work. Chairman of the council Louis Duzanson said the council submitted two budgets, their 2010 and 2011 budget but to date they did not receive any response from government. The council members said so far they have been working on the basis of goodwill and most importantly for the love of St. Maarten. They said they have been approached with offers for funding from other sources other than the legislative framework but that was turned down by government. They said their latest letter to the Council of Ministers and Parliament which had a deadline has also lapsed and neither body has responded. Chairman of the council Louis Duzanson said the council will take a decision shortly as to how they would move forward.The council has already adopted their code of conduct and has since shared it with government, advising them that government owned companies should adopt it as their code of conduct or go through similar practices.
Duzanson said government has been listening to what they have to say but so far government has not said anything to them. "It's like they only meet with a listening ear."Duzanson further explained that government sent them the annual reports on the government owned companies and are expecting an urgent advice on these reports. Furthermore, government sent the council some information pertaining to WINAIR and has requested an urgent response. Government in a letter said they want the advise on WINAIR within four weeks. Duzanson said most of the files on WINAIR are incomplete and while an audit and other reports are available to government none of it was provided to the council that has to advise them.
