PHILIPSBURG:--- Member of Parliament Omar Ottley is expressing deep concern over the Government of St. Maarten’s decision to dismiss the supervisory board of NV GEBE, a board composed of dedicated local professionals. Meanwhile, the company’s new CEO will remain untouched, despite being at the helm of decisions that can bring relief to our people.
Ottley’s call follows revelations that NV GEBE paid over $15,000 for an international USA Today feature promoting the utility company, despite the ongoing blackouts, unresolved billing chaos from the 2022 cyberattack, and growing public frustration. Ottley condemned the move as a “publicity stunt,” saying GEBE's CEO has offered no meaningful improvements for residents to justify such spending or inviting the media into GEBE at this challenging time for the Company and Country.
“Instead of fixing the utility company and providing relief, the CEO chose to spend thousands on an interview that serves him more than it serves our people.
“All the issues that are mentioned as the government’s reasoning for dismissing the board are the responsibilities of the CEO. Instead of facing the public with real solutions, this CEO—who has no historic or emotional stake in this island—chooses to fund PR stunts in the U.S. That money could have been used to fix the broken billing platform, assist low-income families, or invest in load stability. Instead, it was spent on a foreign publication that does nothing to ease the suffering of the average St. Maartener,” said Ottley.
When the Prime Minister needed photo opportunities to appear in control during the GEBE crisis, he had no issue standing beside the very same Board he now wants to dismiss, the late CEO he once tried to remove but later publicly praised, and the Management Team he now refuses to hold accountable. Where is the consistency in leadership? Where is the accountability across the board? Why are we so quick to crucify our own, while remaining silent when outsiders are at fault?
