Unbiased look at the Sint Maarten Elections
PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — On November 22, Member of Parliament (MP) Akeem Arrindell sent a letter to Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs, requesting her attention to a number of concerns at PJIA. In his letter to the prime minister the MP soughtclarity on PJIAEs alleged intentions to seek addition financing, which contradicts the information the MPreceived last year, which prohibits PJIAE from seeking finance on the world market, an agreement that wassigned off by the World Bank.
MP Arrindell also wants to know for which purpose the alleged financing willbe used and if the lending has to be guaranteed by Government.
MP Arrindell asked for an outline of PJIAEs priorities and questioned if government, as shareholder, playsany role or has any involvement in setting PJIAEs priorities for the sake of transparency and good governance.MP Akeem Arrindell asked the prime minister if PJIAE has taken any of the points of the governing programinto account, referring to the US pre-clearance and the new by-pass which allows more airlines to land duringthe peak hours.
The MP mentioned that these are considered vital for the improvement of our economy and enquired if PJIAE has yet made any attempt to work on the plans for US pre-clearance and requestedthe details of such plans, if any.
Governments supervision of PJIAE came in to question when the MP inquired into how many local firms, such the St. Maarten Investment Agency and APS, had been approached for financing. The MP wants toknow which one(s) was/were chosen, why and who recommended it/them. The MP also questioned thecosts of the financing, including brokerage fees, finders fees, processing and consulting fees.
The MPconcluded by emphasizing that we must ensure that our local institutions, such as APS and others,get first preference when it comes to financing such projects.
