TEATT Minister Stuart Johnson lectures Members of Parliament on their attendance.

February 4, 2019

~ I did not attend a gay cruise, I continued to serve my county despite motion of no confidence. ~

PHILIPSBURG: — Minister of TEATT Stuart Johnson lectured Members of Parliament during his attendance of the public meeting on Monday afternoon. Johnson said while he was criticized for not attending meetings of Parliament there were former Ministers that were supported by the opposition that did not attend meetings of Parliament while at least one MP from the opposition that does not participate in meetings.
During the Ministers presentation ,Member of Parliament Jurendy Doran called for a point of order asking the chair to instruct the Minister to answer the questions that were posed to him instead of lecturing Members of Parliament. MP Frans Richardson also contested the fact that the Minister chose to make a lengthy presentation to parliament which would hinder Members of Parliament to question him during the second round. Chairlady of Parliament Sarah Wescott Williams informed Parliament that the Minister has unlimited speaking time and that she would allow the Minister to continue his presentation.
Johnson then went ahead and informed Parliament on the country’s economic status post-Irma and Maria.
In his lengthy presentation Johnson told Parliament that he did not attend a gay cruise but instead attended the FCCA platinum cruise where he went present the island current status post IRMA, Johnson also apologized to Parliament for his absence during the first-round last week, he said due to conflicting schedules of his colleague Minister who would normally replace him that Minister also could not have attended the public meeting last week. The Minister further told parliament that he did cut his trip short to deal with the bridge loan for PJIAE in order for the workers to be paid.
MP Frans Richardson told Parliament that he submitted some 45 questions in writing for the Minister to answer and the Minister did not answer any of his questions, he then requested that the Minister submit the answers in writing to him. MP Brison asked both the Prime Minister and Minister of TEATT to provide clarification on their positions on the loan since there the term sheet is not finalized. MP Christopher Emmanuel asked the Prime Minister to clarify whether or not she told Parliament in her presentation that she was the one that suggested that positions on the Management and Supervisory Board be occupied by the Dutch as conditions for the loans.
Prime Minister Leona Romeo Marlin informed Parliament that during an extra-ordinary shareholder meeting that PJIAE and PJIAH both agreed to the Government’s financing plan for the airport. Romeo Marlin said that the World Bank will be providing the Government of St. Maarten with $50M grant which will be loaned to PJIAE at a 4.45% interest rate while the European Investment Bank will provide the other $50M for the same interest rate. The loans she said will be for a period of 20 years with 5 years grace period. The terms and conditions for the Government loan to PJIAE will be the same as the EIB loan. As for the timesheet that was presented to MP’s is a draft copy and not the final copy.

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