PHILIPSBURG:--- What was a rumor became a reality on Wednesday when SMN News recovered a copy of the request for a Vehicle Inspection Permit that was submitted on April 15th, 2013 by the bodyguard of Member of Parliament Romaine Laville to the Ministry of Economic Affairs (TEATT).
Under the NA/DP/I-3 coalition government, Member of Parliament Romaine Laville and Member of Parliament Frans Richardson were the ones to overlook and appoint the Minister of TEATT. It was during the last weeks of the SWW-2 cabinet Laville had his bodyguard Rogelio Gregory Koeiman submit a letter to the Minister of TEATT requesting a Vehicle Inspection Permit. SMN News learnt that this was one of the reasons the SWW-2 government fell because MP Laville was demanding too much from the government he was supporting at the time and his coalition partners namely the National Alliance was not going to allow an Independent MP to hold the government hostage for his personal benefits.
The request SMN News recovered will be published under this article for clarity. On April 15th, 2013, Laville's bodyguard Rogelio Gregory Koeiman, a former police officer who was convicted and ousted from the Police Force, requested that the Government of St. Maarten grant him a permit to operate a Motor Vehicle Inspection Center. SMN News further learnt that a well-established businessman is in the loop to operate the Vehicle Inspection Center when the license is granted to MP Laville's bodyguard Rogelio Gregory Koeiman.
It should be noted that Member of Parliament Romaine Laville is seeking to obtain licenses for the businesses his colleague MP Silvia Meyers is currently operating. SMN News also learnt that MP Meyers had no idea that the government she is currently supporting is trying to undermine her companies and her family that is working and managing the Water Taxis and Vehicle Inspection Center by living up to the demands of MP Laville.
Another permit/concession Laville wanted from the Ministry is a concession from the Harbour Group of Companies to operate Water Taxis. SMN News learnt that Laville already has a license to operate Water Taxis but he does not have the concession with the Harbor Group Companies to use his license.
According to reliable information provided to SMN News, the only two companies that have exclusive concessions to operate Water Taxis are St. Maarten Tender Services (STS) owned by Robert Velasquez and Connecting Waves (CW) owned by Etienne "Toochi" Meyers. The source said that STS has about 16 years lifespan left on their contract which is also renewable, while Connecting Waves obtained their first contract with the Harbor Group of Companies about four years now. Currently STS leased out their license to Connecting Waves (CW) who is also operating some of the vessels owned by STS. SMN News further learnt and confirmed that someone went to Bobby's Marina about two weeks ago and offered to purchase the remaining four vessels that STS has moored at Bobby's Marina. "This person came to Bobby's Marina in the name of the MP and his bodyguard, because somehow government will ensure that Laville gets a concession/permit to operate his Water Taxis from the Harbor to Philipsburg."
Members of the former government SWW-2 cabinet said when government fell that MP Laville was demanding quite a lot from the government of St. Maarten even though Government is unable to balance its 2013 budget. Laville wanted $600,000.00 to give the organizers of TEMPO even though government lost last year when they injected $400,000.00 in TEMPO Turns 7. It is also said that Laville wanted two million dollars to clean trenches and when he was told that government did not have that kind of monies right now he let go some foul language at a Minister and informed him that he needed to ensure that what he wants is placed in the 2013 budget.
Laville also obtained longlease land in the name of Joe's Construction while the SWW2 cabinet was in office. Efforts made to reach the Meyers family and MP Meyers on Wednesday proved futile.
