Philipsburg:--- Leader of government William Marlin in an interview said the Democratic Party did not make provisions for country St. Maarten even though they were in government for almost 10 years. Marlin said while everyone is talking about the building government has decided to rent, they have failed to say that those in government in the past did not provide space for the future parliament.Marlin said when people heard about the $96,000 monthly rent they must have been shocked but it is cheaper than what most people pay per meter for a Front Street locations. Marlin said this issue has two components one is the amount of rent and the other is why they have to rent a building now. Marlin said people are confusing the new government building that is under construction and the parliament building. The new government building he said will house government and the council of ministers while they have to find space for parliament which is a separate entity from government.
Marlin said the location that was rented is a temporary location and the owner of the building has to invest monies to make sure the building becomes suitable to be used as a parliament building. He said four of the floors will be occupied, the 2, 3,4th floors will be the loft and meeting rooms for the members of parliament. Marlin said parliamentarian's needs to have space to work on a daily basis. He said the permanent committees have to meet regularly especially those of finance, labour, education and justice. Also to be housed in the new building is the support staff of the members of parliament all of whom are to have their separate offices including faction offices and meeting rooms. Marlin said they had to rent the building for at least seven years so that they are guaranteed of a space, he said the contract do have provisions to terminate the contract prior to the seven years but there would be a penalty if that is to happen. He said one of the advantages of renting for seven years is that government would not have to focus on building a parliament building on day one but instead they would build the other necessary buildings.
Marlin said one of the things the members of the opposition did not talk about is the 13 million guilders per year that is spent on office space for government offices throughout Philipsburg which is used only for the island government offices only. Marlin said government has been paying 3 million guilders per year for the white Administration Building which was not occupied for one day. Marlin also indicated that government is paying 60.000 guilders per year for the tax office which has been rented for the past ten years. The island leader said people need to put things into proper prospective and make the necessary comparison. He said while the other spaces were rented empty the parliament building will come fully equipped with the furniture and fixtures and other basic necessities. Marlin said based on an estimate they received from an real estate company, buildings on Front Street are rented as much as $100 per square meter while government would be renting Caribbean Palm for $45 per square meter and they would occupy 1200 square meters. Government will also have to pay $35 per square meter for the furnishings.