~ Will table motions to buy entire estate, ban plastic bags ~
PHILIPSBURG--"I ain't fool allyuh. I ain't fool no young people," independent Member of Parliament (MP) Frans Richardson said in Parliament on Tuesday morning in an emotional presentation on the need to protect Emilio Wilson Estate and his belief that government was reneging on the Island Council decision of some six years ago to purchase the estate.
"One doesn't know how I am hurt when I hear what we want to put in Emilio Wilson Estate. We have lied to the people and the young people when we all agreed to protect it," he said, adding that he was playing no part in that falsehood.
Richardson signalled his intention to table four motions, including the one on the estate, in the second round of the plenary session of Parliament dealing with the approval of the country's 2012 budget.
The other motions deal with government finding a way for "locals" to own shares in the commercial banks, or creating a local bank, banning of plastic bags, and the protection of Mullet Pond. He said the motions would not "tumble the budget," but would give true meaning to the deliberations.
Outlining his motion on the estate, Richardson said the same way government had obtained a bond via the Central Bank of Curaçao and St. Maarten for the Harbour Group of Companies, a similar one could be acquired to purchase the estate.
He accused some members of government who had been part of the Island Council of "a change of heart" after having assured many young people and environmental groups who had protested against development of the estate that it would be saved. "If you need to float another bond ... let's buy Emilio Wilson [estate]."
He said he would not let his decision as an Island Councilman of the past to be disrespected, but "now we have a rainforest coming." The "rainforest" to which Richardson referred is the name of the company planning a scenic lift and recreational park for the estate: Rockland Rainforest Adventures. It is said that a permit has been signed for the project. Government is working on buying a section of the estate for conservation.
Richardson said there was a great need to protect what remains of the country's heritage and historical sites. He said it was a shame that residents couldn't access Fort Amsterdam freely without permission from Divi Little Bay Resort and were not even allowed to use the resort's parking lot.
The Plantz' family land, on which the remnants of the Belvedere Plantation are found, also needs to be looked at by government for protection, he said.
On the "Canadian" banks, Richardson said only a fortunate few locals had shares in these banks. Opportunities for locals to buy shares in those banks or in the "national bank" must be created, as this would stimulate the economy, he said. He argued that if locals were in control of the banks, they would invest more readily in projects in this country.
The MP said "a blind eye" should not be turned to the poverty in the country, especially the "people roaming the dump." St. Maarten has been "the light bulb of the Caribbean" and has to continue to be so, by government and Parliament coming up with solutions.
He also labelled sports tourism and medical tourism as unexplored streams of revenue and called on government to look at the more than 5,000 employment permits requested annually, because those permit-holders had children who fell under the law on compulsory education, further putting a burden on the system.
Richardson and National Alliance (NA) MP George Pantophlet sought further explanation on the collection of back rental taxes from non-resident condo owners. He said the ripple effect of government wanting to collect these monies from condo owners "has started," with condo owners who had received assessments calling it a rip-off tax and advising others not to buy property here.
Richardson asked Deputy Prime Minister Theo Heyliger for the number of electricity/water metres cut off monthly by utilities company GEBE N.V. He also called on Heyliger and Public Health Minister Cornelius de Weever to deal with the sewage problems in all districts.
Pantophlet focused most of his presentation on a letter from the Committee for Financial Supervision CFT on the budget. The letter outlines the CFT's concerns about government's ability to collect the additional revenue it expects to garner from back rental taxes. He also again queried about casino fees and asked for a list of those that were not up to date with their payments.
Pantophlet also signalled his intention to support Richardson's motions. He said he too believed that Emilio Wilson Estate must be bought. He also said he had learnt from estate owner Henri Brookson that he had sent a letter to Parliament requesting a meeting about his willingness to sell the property.
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