SXMElections.com

PHILIPSBURG:--- Several persons who submitted applications for building permits and have been waiting for lengthy periods are alleging that civil servants within the Building Permits Department are allegedly demanding bribes in order to process their application.
Some persons that contacted SMN News said that they applied for their building permits for years now and there has been a backlog. These concerns SMN News learned were brought to the attention of the Minister of VROMI Egbert Jurendy Doran but so far nothing tangible was done to address the situation.
They said civil servants that have to handle the dossier and evaluate the requests are allegedly demanding money outside of the regular fees to begin processing their requests.
On Wednesday SMN News asked the acting Minister of VROMI Ardwell Irion about the allegations and if it was discussed in the Council of Ministers.
Ardwell said if the matter was raised in the Council of Ministers it would have been addressed already. The Minister of Finance and Acting Minister of Justice urged the public who were approached for bribes should report the matter to Government.
The Minister said if complaints are filed it will be dealt with as swiftly as possible because bribery is not something the government of St. Maarten will tolerate or accept. Situations such as this hampers the integrity as well as the processing of the building permits.