Philipsburg:--- An Inspector of Public Works (VROMI) issued a warning a letter to the contractor that is constructing a vending stand at the TELEM building on L.B. Scot Road early Friday morning, confirmed Acting Secretary General of the Department of VROMI Louis Brown.
In an invited comment, Brown said that his department was informed of the construction early Friday morning when several residents on L.B. Scot Road began calling his department for an explanation. Brown said no building permit was issued for the construction of the wooden stand that is being added to the TELEM building. "As far as I know, TELEM did not even request a building permit for the construction of such a structure. I was told by the inspector who visited the scene Friday morning that TELEM was constructing the stand for two vendors that are operating next to their premises. Brown further explained that the department issued the warning letter on Friday because the building stop has to be signed by the Minister of VROMI." When asked if TELEM would have to submit a building plan for such a structure, Brown said that building permits are issued when the building plan and other documents are reviewed.
SMN News learnt that TELEM, a government owned company that is currently laying off workers as they continue their restructuring plan, has paid a contractor some $4000.00 to build the stand for one of the vendors identified as Melinda Espacia. A source within the company said they don't know what the vendor has on TELEM but she even went as far as telling the company that they have to pay her for the two weeks she would remain home while the structure is constructed. "We need to know why tax payers' monies are being used to build a vending stand for someone that government gave a license to sell alongside public roads. I also want to know if an audit will be conducted at the company and where will this fit in as company expenditures."
SMN News contacted a senior official at TELEM for a comment on the issue and the official said that TELEM sent a letter to government asking them to relocate the two vendors because they need to be able to get full access to their building. However, SMN News learnt from a government official that another senior official at TELEM sent a letter to the Minister of VROMI informing him that the company has taken the initiative to build a decent wooden structure for the vendors because these vendors are forced to transport their produce back and forth on a daily basis.
Residents of L.B. Scott Road, Dollison Drive, Plough Drive, and Charity Drive are especially angered because some years ago a vendor that was operating at the location was caught selling drugs. "This person's house was searched by police and they confiscated monies and drugs and the culprit was deported. Why is our government and TELEM harboring people that uses the location to sell drugs to our younger generation? I also need to know if I can go at the Princess Juliana International Airport or at GEBE as a Dutch national and set up shop there too and if these government owned companies would build a stand for me to operate because I was laid off by the Simpson Bay Resort Management Company (SBRMC)," the angry resident told SMN News.
