PHILIPSBURG:--- Tensions are rising within the Ministry of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment, and Infrastructure (VROMI) following an official complaint filed by Charlon Pompier, a senior civil servant in the ministry’s infrastructure management division. The complaint, lodged earlier this week, accuses the Secretary General of the ministry of intimidation, sparking significant discourse both within the government and in the public sphere.
MP Ardwell Irion Raises the Complaint During Budget Debate
The issue made its way to Parliament on Thursday, during the second draft budget debate, when Member of Parliament Ardwell Irion questioned VROMI Minister Patrice Gumbs Jr. about the complaint. While no extensive details have been revealed about how the ministry plans to address Pompier's accusations, this move has turned the spotlight squarely on the internal workings of VROMI, raising concerns about transparency and accountability within its ranks.
Allegations Surrounding Contract Terminations
Adding to the controversy are allegations that Minister Patrice Gumbs Jr. has been pressuring Pompier to write recommendations that favor the revocation of garbage collection contracts awarded to certain contractors. One such company, Meadow Lands, is reportedly at risk of losing its contract, which has stirred allegations of potential conflicts of interest. Specifically, it is alleged that one of the companies likely to benefit from this shift was led by Luciano Nichols at All Waste in Place. Currently, Nichols is working as the Chief of Staff in the minister’s cabinet. It is reported that the Minister's intention is to revoke two contracts from Meadow Lands and Ariana, which he intends to pass on to All Waste in Place, who did not score during the bidding process in 2021.
Ariana NV, another contractor whose contract is set to expire in March 2026, is also believed to be under threat. However, legal advice reportedly sought on this matter has advised against supporting the minister’s alleged push to dissolve these contracts, casting doubt on the validity of such actions.
Questions Loom Over EDMP Contract Awards
The situation becomes further convoluted with claims concerning the awarding of Emergency Debris Management Program (EDMP) contracts to two Aruban companies, ATCO NV Trucking and Heavy Equipment and Matrice NV. Allegations indicate that during a ministerial visit to Aruba, the bidding process for these contracts was paused, potentially giving the Aruban companies an opportunity to enter and secure the bids.
Despite these claims, Minister Gumbs Jr. has publicly denied any deliberate interference in the bidding process. These allegations, if unsubstantiated, may complicate the narrative, but they fuel ongoing questions about fairness and transparency in the selection process for public contracts.
Lease Land Fees, Rainforest Adventures, and Write-Off Allegations
During the ongoing discussions regarding the ministry’s operations and governance, former Minister of VROMI and now MP Egbert Doran, raised pointed questions about how VROMI is handling lease land fees, specifically in Emilio Estate. Of particular note was concern about reduced lease land fees allegedly granted to a well-known business, Rainforest Adventures St Maarten N.V. (RFA), while residents in the area reportedly pay standard rates.
MP Doran urged the minister to research and return with clear answers, seeking confirmation that no special tariff or scaling was given at the time the deed was issued. He also called for the deed and details of tariffs paid by both residential and commercial stakeholders in the area for comparison.
The minister clarified that the deed for RFA's leasehold was executed on January 8, 2016, for a land area of 357,910 m², at an annual long lease canon of NAf. 1.20 per square meter. The stated purpose for the land was to "have and maintain an eco-adventure and attraction park," with a maximum allowable building percentage of 5%. By contrast, surrounding properties often have a building percentage closer to 40%, with canons ranging up to NAf. 4.80 per m² for commercial use. The minister argued that, given the low allowed building percentage, the NAf. 1.20 rate was both justified and reasonable.
Nevertheless, concerns were expressed that a special price was, in practice, granted to Rainforest. MPs requested further clarification on this matter, alongside additional transparency around other locations such as South Reward and Saunders.
Allegations of Write-offs and Requests for Land Relinquishment
The issue of write-offs in leasehold payments surfaced. MP Doran referenced claims that, within the last two months, certain write-offs had been executed by the government, and specifically questioned whether Rainforest Adventures had benefited from discounted rates or exemptions. The minister responded that neither discounts nor exemptions were granted at the time the land was issued, nor after. The deed, he stated, reflected the standard process, with no reductions.
However, it was revealed that in 2019 Rainforest made two formal requests for exemption and discounts on lease fees, followed by a third request in 2020 during extended talks with the ministry. This third request involved relinquishing part of the land and sought a reduced canon price per square meter. According to the National Ordinance on the Issuance of Land in Long Lease, requests to relinquish leasehold rights cannot be denied. Therefore, the ministry approved the partial relinquishment from July 7, 2020, at which point the lease canon was adjusted proportional to the reduced land area. In 2024, negotiations culminated in a draft decree confirming part of the land would be relinquished.
Questions remain about whether Rainforest submitted requests for write-off of outstanding lease payments in exchange for land it had already used. The minister maintained that no request was made for the write-off of large sums owed for past exploitation of the land.
Instead, the adjustments made were in strict adherence to legal obligations regarding relinquishment and adjustment of lease payments, not as a means to erase previous debts.
Conflict of Interest and Ethical Concerns
At the heart of these unfolding controversies lies a critical question of ethics and governance. Allegations of improper pressure to alter contracts and concerns about personal affiliations influencing procurement decisions point to possible conflicts of interest that could undermine public confidence in the ministry.
These concerns, paired with the timing and nature of the EDMP contract awards, have already generated significant backlash and led to calls for greater oversight and accountability within VROMI.
A Need for Transparent Leadership
With the combination of Charlon Pompier’s intimidation complaint, allegations of undue ministerial pressure, contract concerns, and new scrutiny over lease land practices, the public's trust in the operations of VROMI is under scrutiny. The developments have renewed calls for robust checks and balances to ensure fairness, transparency, and adherence to the rule of law within the ministry.
As the situation continues to develop, how VROMI’s leadership navigates these controversies—including those relating to contract management, land allocation, and fee assessment—will be key in shaping its public image and institutional integrity moving forward.
