Dear Editor,
While the Minister [Christophe Emmanuel – Ed.] challenges the individual members of the GEBE supervisory board to explain to the people of St. Maarten why they did not sign the concession agreement I would also like to lay a challenge before the Minister to explain to the people his reasoning for turning down the request from GEBE for a letter of no objection in order for GEBE to purchase a parcel of land at Porto Cupecoy which land would have been used to construct a 4,000 cubic meter water storage tank right next to the water production facilities in Cupecoy.
The area that was used in the past at the Mullet Bay was rented and here GEBE had the opportunity to own the property thus being able to capitalize its investment and the technical and financial analysis done by GEBE vs GEBE owning the property in the long run would have saved money to the consumers.
Because of the refusal of the Minister to give permission to purchase the land, having to build the tanks on the former Mullet Bay property this venture will cost the company an additional 2 million guilders in having to run two 12 inch water lines along the complete trajectory from the production facilities at Cupecoy to the Mullet tank and a return line from the board tank back down to feed the consumers their need for water supply as according to WHO standards water should not be sent directly to the consumer but should be stored and treated and thereafter distributed.
I wonder who were the powers that be that influenced his decision making on this matter. Was it in the interest of the same powers that be or the interest of the community guaranteeing stable, safe and reliable water according to World Health Organization standards?
Roy R. Marlin
Former chairman and member GEBE supervisory board of directors
