Dear Editor;
I am grateful for the opportunity to once more highlight the situation in our community involving a now-former employee of VROMI whose actions are now having a detrimental effect on the lives of two local families living in the area.
There is this piece of property situated in Philipsburg supposedly extending from Back Street to Cannegieter Street, which has been inhabited by these families for 5 generations now. It is domain land and a request was made to the Government in 1993 for a long lease title.
A short while after, the families observed an employee of Kadaster surveying the area and when they questioned they were given the impression that it was being done on their behalf. The first name of the person making the request was mentioned. On receiving our reply, we realised that the whole section closer to Cannegieter Street was cut off and given in title to a parent of this same employee. Is that not a. conflict of interest? Are there not any laws in place to combat this kind of wrongdoing?
There are allegations circulating in the community about this same (and now former) employee of Kadaster having orchestrated the acquisition of over half a dozen parcels of domain land including this one, titling them in family members’ names and selling them off to interested buyers. Several came to inspect the area but after being apprised of the situation involving the families, they never returned.
The property was offered to us for $50,000 US dollars, but we could not and did not want to facilitate what we considered an illegal act.
Now here comes this greedy businessman, a multi-millionaire who owns vast amounts of property along a section of the main road leading into French Quarter with two huge dwellings on them and a yard in front so wide that it could probably house the whole of Philipsburg, who saw a deal too good to be true and impossible to pass up. He acquired ownership and was issued a building permit.
How is that even possible when it is against the law to sell off domain property prior to any investments being made to it? And being maintained for decades by the families who should have been given first choice in the long lease title. After being transferred to the VROMI Department, this same individual is affixing his signature to documents requesting approval for an address for this same property, while acting in his capacity as head of that department during his senior’s supposed vacation. Is that not a conflict of interest? And in his haste to approve for the numbers all wrong.
The building permit was approved as one request together with another project which had been ongoing for a while already at the head of town, over half a mile away. How is that possible?.
When the gentleman first approached us, we explained the situation to him and overheard his son asking him to go back for his money. But I guess his greed got the better of him. And here we are today facing high-priced lawyers sending threatening letters to an 83-year-old who has since passed away. Sorry to disappoint you. She cannot answer your summons from the grave. We were forced to defend ourselves in a court of law on short notice without legal representation.
The area in question is low-lying and is easily flooded with any heavy shower, made worse by the erection of a three-storey building next door. There is no infrastructure in place to channel the running water and its overflow is spreading onto our area. Our homes got flooded during the last hurricane and those before. The water was flowing into our yard like waves on the seashore during the passing of [Hurricane – Ed.] Irma.
The area is being used as short-stay parking by visitors to the surrounding small businesses and for car detailing. Just imagine what would happen if a huge building were allowed to be built there. It would add to the existing problems that we face on a regular basis. It would stop the flow of water coming from the sea side during a hurricane and the water would rise rapidly, threatening the lives of children and adults alike.
A protest was filed with the Government and we were granted an audience with the then Minister of VROMI Mr. Emmanuel who took time to listen to our plight. The government fell not long after and the incoming minister, who was selected from among staff of that same department, quickly took a decision against us. That in itself should be considered a conflict of interest. It would be expected that he would not side with a protest lodged against a department he has to return to after his short tenure as minister is up.
The last three ministers all came from that same department. Is that a new trend? Will any of them be interested in uncovering corruption if it exists at all?
We were awaiting the opening of the Integrity Chamber but that seems to be delayed for whatever reason. I will not be surprised if this office is flooded with complaints similar to mine on its opening. The perception of corruption is out there but here is the reality in black and white.
I am appealing to the Honourable Judges who now have the power in their hands to help stem the tide of corruption and abuse of office that have existed in our community for too long.
R.J. Stakelborough.
