~SBOD and management to select crisis management, team members. ~
PHILIPSBURG:--- Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs announced on Wednesday at the weekly Council of Ministers press conference that the independent temporary manager of NV GEBE has been appointed as of Tuesday, September 14th, 2022. Troy Washington was selected by the Council of Ministers as the temporary manager who would ensure that an independent investigation takes place after the cyber-attack at NV GEBE.
The Prime Minister said that the new temporary manager will remain in office until the investigation is complete and also until a new statutory director is appointed. She made clear that persons that are candidates for the management team but are part of the investigation will not be appointed until the investigation is completed.
As for the crisis management team members the Prime Minister said those persons will be selected by the Supervisory Board of Directors and the Temporary Manager since they have the framework on how they should be working. Jacobs said that focus will be placed on continuous operations, bringing the billing system up to par while securing the finances and viability of the company, while the investigation takes place.
Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs made clear that she is scheduled to return to the parliament of St. Maarten this Friday but information from the government-owned company was not forthcoming, therefore she is waiting on the new management to provide the answers so that she could update the parliament of St. Maarten. The head of government said the new management will be placing focus on the proper billing of NV GEBE clients, collection of outstanding funds and to also communicate intensely with their stakeholders, and keeping the electricity on throughout the island.
In response to questions posed about the planned anniversary celebrations for next weekend, Jacobs said all plans made by the previous management will be reviewed which will be communicated to the company and its staff.
