PHILIPSBURG:--- Member of Parliament Egbert Jurendy Doran has publicly refuted allegations suggesting that the National Alliance-led Jacobs I Cabinet was responsible for removing local executives from key leadership positions within NV GEBE. Speaking during a public meeting of Parliament, MP Doran said he felt compelled to address statements and narratives that had circulated over the previous 36 to 48 hours regarding the utility company and the appointment of local professionals within its management structure.
“I just want to bring it clear to the people of St. Maarten,” Doran stated, emphasizing that in the modern digital era, records exist to verify decisions and actions taken by governments and public officials.
“I believe in this digital realm and this digital world that we live in. Everything is recorded, so nobody can hide behind anything,” Doran said. “Of course, there are also always people who want to spin narratives, which is always possible.”
Jacob's cabinet did not dismiss local executives
Doran explained that when the Jacobs I Cabinet took office in November 2019, vacancies were advertised for several senior management positions within GEBE, including director-level posts.
According to the parliamentarian, claims that local executives were dismissed under the National Alliance administration are inaccurate.
“Under the Jacobs Cabinet, no local individuals were fired from GEBE,” Doran declared.
He specifically named several individuals whose departures or appointments have recently become the subject of political discussion.
“Not Ms. Iris, not Veronica Janssen-Webster, who's currently here, and nor Mr. Chittick,” he said.
Doran noted that the vacancies in question were published during the tenure of then-Minister Christopher Wever, who held responsibility for the utility company at the time.
“Christopher Wever was the minister in charge, and under that tenure, the vacancies went out,” Doran stated.
National Alliance appointed local professionals
Going further, MP Doran argued that the National Alliance administration was actually responsible for appointing local professionals to those positions rather than removing them.
“To the contrary, the National Alliance under William Marlin appointed those local individuals,” Doran said.
He stressed that public debate should be based on documented facts rather than political rhetoric.
“Therefore, we have to call a spade a spade and be very, very clear,” he remarked.
The parliamentarian also challenged anyone with contrary information to publicly refute his statements.
“I challenge anyone here; at least two persons in this room have the opportunity to rebut and clarify if that's not the case,” Doran said.
He concluded his intervention with a direct summary of his position.
“Therefore, we did not fire them; we hired them.”
Debate continues over GEBE leadership
Doran’s comments came amid growing political discussion surrounding governance and leadership issues at NV GEBE, the country’s sole electricity and water provider.
Shortly after Doran’s remarks, MP Omar Ottley referenced ongoing concerns about the company’s management situation, describing the utility as “a ship without a captain” and indicating that further discussion on GEBE was expected during a meeting scheduled for Friday.
The exchange highlights ongoing political scrutiny of GEBE’s leadership structure, appointment processes, and overall governance, as Parliament continues to examine matters related to the state-owned utility company.
As debate continues, Doran has urged the public to rely on documented records and verifiable facts regarding decisions taken during the Jacobs I administration, maintaining that the National Alliance government appointed local professionals to key GEBE positions rather than dismissing them.