St. Maarten Marine Trades Association (SMMTA) wants Government to postpone or cancel the still-pending transfer of any additional concession rights to Simpson Bay Lagoon Authority Corporation (SLAC), including any
waters of Simpson Bay and the lagoon (see Thursday paper), until a full investigation is conducted into Port St. Maarten Group of Companies and its subsidiary.
SMMTA alleges that in the five years SLAC has been 100 per cent owned by the harbour, they have not helped the yachting industry, protected the environment or improved their services in Simpson Bay. The complaint is nothing new, alleging among other things that in this manner the port “de facto” is competing with businesses in the very sector SLAC is meant to regulate.
The fees charged remain a bone of contention, while multiple suggestions for a review and more customer-friendly structure allegedly have been ignored. It is also stated that Port St. Maarten’s management team “unilaterally expanded their objectives to include competing with the private sector at many levels.”
The request came just two weeks after Dock Maarten Managing Director Brian Deher, a prominent SMMTA board member, officially asked the Council of Ministers to investigate the harbour’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Brian Mingo. As known, Deher’s company and Port St. Maarten are locked in a bitter legal dispute over developments at Great Bay.
It’s actually a bit sad that this battle has flared up again on the eve of the 36th annual Heineken Regatta, which played a key role over the years in promoting the spectacular growth of the local marine sector, to the benefit of both SMMTA members and SLAC. One can’t easily see how at this point, but wouldn’t it be nice if all parties involved could find common ground to bridge their differences?
That does not mean there shouldn’t be any investigation into the harbour. Moreover, a civil inquiry by the Prosecutor’s Office is already underway, which includes SLAC and the Simpson Bay causeway project.
The point is that in the end there are enough joint interests to warrant both sides seeking a pragmatic but fair compromise instead of continued conflict. That probably would be the favoured option among much of the general public who may not entirely understand, but must be wondering by now if there is really no way that hatchet can be buried.
Correction
Thursday’s editorial mistakenly said the Supervisory Board of GEBE had withdrawn its earlier nomination of William Brooks as Chief Executive Officer (CEO). The board did change its mind on his candidacy and ended up strongly advising the shareholder against the appointment.
