~ Former Chairman of SBOD setting the records straight.~
PHILIPSBURG:--- The feud between members of the Supervisory Board of Directors (SBOD) of N.V GEBE continues, as former chairman Bienvenido Richardson penned a second letter to the Prime Minister of St. Maarten exposing the plot the chairman of the board had with their legal advisor.
Richardson also sent the Prime Minister the taped board meeting which he also sent to the Council of Ministers. The recording and letter that was sent to the Council of Ministers on July 1st 2021 was also sent to SMN News.
In recording the chairlady, was addressing the former Temporary Manager Sharine Daniel who raised concerns about the plans the SBOD members had to pay themselves the $100.000.00 that is budgeted for a new strategic plan. The chairlady said that she and the legal advisor put the strategic plan together to move the process further and faster because they do not know when the new management team would take office. The chairlady said the legal advisor is one that came up with the idea to put the two organs together. The intention was to involve the former Temporary Manager along with a few members of the SBOD and with one or two experts from outside.
Daniel in the recording said that there were a number of miscommunications, however, the chairlady said when she approached Daniel about the strategic plan she was hesitant in the beginning but later she agreed. Daniel then told the chairlady that she was never against having a strategic plan done for NV GEBE but in fact, she was against the manner in which the SBOD was doing it.
NV GEBE conducted a recruitment process that began over a year and a half ago, and while the Council of Ministers took a decision to appoint three of the candidates the process is yet to be completed.
A meeting with the SBOD and Shareholder is scheduled for today July 2nd however it is understood that some members of SBOD and the current Temporary Manager have decided that they will boycott the meeting that was called by the SBOD on the request of the shareholder. SMN News was also informed that some members of the SBOD have voted in favor of recommencing another recruitment process that will cost the company another $100,000.00.
Richardson also shared concerns about the excessive billing that is submitted to the company for legal advice to the SBOD.
Below is the letter sent to the Prime Minister of St. Maarten and the Council of Ministers by Bienvenido Richardson a member of the SBOD.
Good morning Honorable Prime Minister
I would like to confirm my attendance at today's shareholder meeting. I was not kept in the loop with regards to today's meeting since in our recent board meeting before my early departure.
I am looking forward to being heard today with regards to my letter that was sent to you, the shareholder.
Kind regard
On Thu, Jul 1, 2021 at 4:32 PM Bienvenido Richardson <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; wrote:
Dear Honorable Prime Minister,
Regarding my email correspondence of June 8th, 2021 to you, as a follow up I would like to further inform you of the sequence of events that took place thereafter.
The letter that was sent to you on June 8th, 2021 included solely the SBOD of NV GEBE.
As normal, the chairlady always forwards all incoming letters to the external counsel, Mr. Jairo Bloem, for his perusal.
I am of the opinion that Mr. Bloem allegedly leaked my letter intentionally to the media to discredit my letter that consists of nothing but truth and facts.
I took note of the two letters that were sent out to the media, one being by NV GEBE & SBOD and the other by Mr. Bloem's interview with St. Maarten news in which he refuted the allegations.
The SBOD &NV GEBE letter may have been signed by chairlady Nina Diaz and or Mr. Dembrook, however, it was written by Mr. Bloem himself who is at the center of the ongoing turmoil between myself and the board. This is a conflict.
In the Herald newspaper of June 21, 2021, I was described by Mr. Bloem as being a disgruntled board member who was removed as chairman by the SBOD due to various violations.
However the resolution dated December 7th, 2021 stated:
(iv) the Supervisory Board of Directors of NV GEBE values periodically rotating the functions of Chairman, vice chairman, to firstly allow members a chance to exercise one of these functions…..
(V) that the Supervisory Board of Directors of NV GEBE enormously values the great dedication and extensive work of Mr. Bienvenido Richardson …….
Therefore the statement made to the newspaper and St. Maarten news by Mr. Bloem on behalf of himself and NV GEBE is not correct.
During my 3.5 years, I served as chairman of NV GEBE SBOD, at no time did I commit any violations whatsoever.
The fact remains I was voted out in the board meeting dated December 7th, 2021 because one of the motions tabled by me was to vote on terminating Mr. Bloem's contract as I was concerned about the direction the SBOD was heading with his involvement.
On June 24, 2021, I was requested by the SBOD in particular chairlady Diaz to give reason and account to the members pertaining to my letter that I sent to you the shareholder.
I attended the meeting and was tricked by chairlady Diaz who first pretended to call Mr. Bloem on the phone to sit in via WhatsApp phone call in which I question the legality because he was not placed on the convocation as being an invitee.
However, while on the WhatsApp call, Mr. Bloem appeared in person into our board meeting in which I once again question Mr. Bloem's presence and in what capacity is his attendance.
Madam chairlady Diaz responded that she invited Mr. Bloem.
During the meeting, Mr. Bloem made lots of accusations towards me such as I was the one who leaked the letter to the blog who in return shared it with Mr. Rene Richardson whom he indicated also has proof thereof.
Please be reminded that this same friend, Mr. Rene Richardson is whom Mr. Bloem wanted and approach me as then former chairman and suggested to appoint him as Temporary Manager of NV GEBE instead of Dr. Daniel. .
This is the same friend that Mr. Bloem wanted the SBOD to engage services with the strategic plan along with three SBOD members including myself in which the money the former TM budgeted would have been split among Mr. Rene Richardson ,Mr Bloem and us members as an additional stipend and I declined.
I would like to point out that in the 19-page letter that was sent to you the Council of Ministers on June 29, 2021, was written by Mr. Bloem and only signed by Madam Chairlady Diaz.
I bienvenido Richardson, a member of the SBOD did not see, reviewed, or was allowed to provide feedback before it was sent to you the shareholder, and the Temporary Manager of NV GEBE.
On page 15 of Mr. Bloem’s letter, he acknowledges the violations of NV GEBE's article of incorporation and the Law towards me.
In Mr. Bloem's words: “Subsequently, this may result in a violation of the NV GEBE articles of incorporation and the law’. Madam Chairlady Diaz and the SBOD members is deliberately acting against the articles which warrant a dismissal.
I would also like to point out to you the shareholder that Mr. Bloem only mention the old invoices in his 19 page letter in which you were already in possession of. The big question is where are the new invoices from November 2020 up to the present? This should be a great concern for you the shareholder because Mr. Bloem continues to work almost daily for the SBOD and GEBE will have to bear the financial consequences.
Concerning the recruitment, Mr. Bloem did take the lead of the entire recruitment negotiations which can be confirmed by the two former candidates and the current Mr. Temmer. To add more, the calculations seem not to be correct in which Mr. Hato voiced his concerns and declined the offer the position twice in the first interview
In all email correspondences with regards to the negotiations, Mr. Bloem is copied in. Noteworthy, Mr. Serrant suddenly resigns from the position as chairman of the recruitment committee citing family problems, leaving the recruitment to be unattended as a replacement is sought.
I was discredited in the letter of June 8, 2020, addressed to you the shareholder.
However, after monitoring the constant manipulation of the minutes which differs from the recordings, I took it upon myself to record board meetings.
Since according to Mr. Bloem and Madam Chairlady Diaz that I am disgruntled and not being truthful, please listen carefully to the attached audio document which in return will answer your concern and parliament's concern regarding the illegal act of the strategic plan.
In addition, this also proves my statement of the young lady Dr. Daniel being forced to participate in this illegal act in a condescending manner.
I will end by saying there will be dark days ahead for GEBE under the leadership of the SBOD and the questionable motives of the temporary manager.
As you the Shareholder can attest to, all the concerns that I raised in my previous letter are coming to past or should I say being played out.
I rest my case.
Kind regard ,
Bienvenido C.Richardson
Member of Supervisory Board of Directors N.V. G.E.B.E
