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Members of Parliament
“For years there has been public confusion when it comes to the fuel clause. Is the fuel clause directly related to the oil prices in the international markets? Can we get the calculation of the fuel clause and in layman’s terms for the general public?
“It was mentioned that GEBE is building a totally environmentally-friendly building. What do you mean by this? A building like that can mean that even the sewage is recycled and the building materials or the manner in which you build is also environmentally-friendly?”
MP Frans Richardson said: “The mission statement of GEBE is: ‘We are a customer-oriented company that provides reliable, cost-effective, quality electricity, water and waste management services in a safe, environmental-friendly, sustainable and innovative manner.
“Our fraction would like to know as of when the concession included ‘waste management’ and if this is the case can Parliament be provided with a copy? Or is this an aspiration of NV GEBE?”
News reports about GEBE are seldom positive unless it is about a sponsorship provided by NV GEBE or training, he said.
“May we state here that we are very pleased with the efforts made by NV GEBE and all companies on this island, ‘The Friendly Island,’ to improve customer service? I can remember the days when I was a very young man and we truly lived up to that slogan in all areas of service in St. Maarten. So I say to NV GEBE: continue working on improving the customer service. Be an example. The people of St. Maarten surely deserve it,” said Richardson.
According to a PowerPoint presentation GEBE made to Government in February regarding the solar car park, Government as shareholder of GEBE will have to formalise the signing over of the parking lot land on Walter Nisbeth Road to GEBE for its solar-energy park project to go ahead.
However, Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure VROMI Christophe Emmanuel does not see the need for land to be transferred. According to the media, he asked, “Why should Government transfer land to GEBE if they are requesting to put down a solar park? It’s just a matter of GEBE and Government coming to some kind of agreement allowing them to use a parking lot.”
“Now I don’t disagree with the Minister. We see no need to transfer already scarce Government land to GEBE, but this is an interesting project and we would like to know if any progress is being made so that the solar car park can become a reality,” added MP Richardson.
MP Romeo Pantophlet will be submitting his questions in writing. However, he wanted to know about the accounting firm that is handling the company’s financing. “Is it true that the company handling the financial statements of GEBE also does the external audit? If this is true then it would be a direct conflict of interest,” stated Pantophlet.
The management board will have a chance to answer all questions posed by the MPs, as President of Parliament Sarah Wescot-Williams adjourned the meeting until 2:00pm Wednesday, May 24.
Source: The Daily Herald https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/65979-mps-fire-questions-at-gebe-management
