~ Says new bidding for New General Hospital should be conducted. ~
PHILIPSBURG: --- Member of Parliament Christopher Emmanuel is calling on the Prime Minister Leona Romeo Marlin who is currently holding the portfolio for the Ministry of VSA to do the honorable thing and have a new bidding process to construct the New General Hospital (NGH).
The National Alliance MP said that he was informed that the company Salini Impregilo S.P. A is in negotiations with INSO and its parent company Condotte to purchase the bankrupt company.
“I understood that this new company Salini Impregilio S.P.A will be the ones to construct the New General Hospital in St. Maarten if the sale goes thru. This goes to show that what I have been saying all along about INSO are facts, the company is bankrupt, and it cannot construct the NGH. Right now, the former Minister of VSA Emil Lee is no longer in the picture, therefore the Prime Minister and the incoming Minister of VSA should do the honorable thing and reopen the bidding process.”
Emmanuel said that the NGH project is draining the funds at SZV while the St. Maarten Medical Center has money. Emmanuel said that the SMMC has liquid and is wondering where is SZV money going. He said he wants to know what was the done with $25M given to SMMC because he based on his research the gynecology ward was broken down and rebuilt, the roof was partially repaired and strapped, and some equipment was purchased. He said there is no control on how these monies are being spent and he wants to know exactly what is done with the funds given to SMMC. Emmanuel said he heard that SMMC rented the former KPMG building in Madame Estate that is currently housing the Human Resources Department. "I heard the SMMC is paying some $25,000.00 monthly for this office space and I also want to know who owns the former KPMG building in Madame Estate and what relation the owner of this building has or had with SMMC and its Supervisory Board.
The Parliament of St. Maarten will conduct an inquiry into the SMMC and New General Hospital Project since the funds managed by SZV is at risk.
“The kettle is calling the pot black because the Dutch said they said they could not send money to St. Maarten because they said that they could not trust the St. Maarten politicians, however, the trend we see is that everything regarding the Dutch recovery money goes back to their own people. Here they gave SMMC $25M and one of their own is renting SMMC a building that they do not really need.”
Emmanuel said he could give a few examples of buildings that are being rented to government by the Dutch people for exorbitant prices. Those examples he said includes the Prosecutor office that moved from one building to a much more expensive building while the former Minister of VSA Emil Lee rented the former Prosecutor’s Office at the Vineyard Building to house the Inspectorate. He said all the offices have one common problem which has to do with Internet connection and furniture.
As Member of Parliament Emmanuel said he will do what he was elected to do by having Parliament conduct an inquiry because he wants to know if the Royal Haskoning DHV is occupying the former KPMG building at the expense of SMMC.
