Dear Editor,
We are reading and hearing about the increase in COVID-19 cases, the continual rise in fuel prices, the reluctance to change to solar energy and now we are again faced with the cutting of the salaries of government employees
In the middle of all this GEBE, the only government-owned company which for years has been bailing out government financially in whatever which way, is now being threatened to end up in the hands of people who are willing to make deals with people who have all been criminally prosecuted. I think this is serious enough to write to you about because I overheard some people deliberating that what they called the Silicone Valley, by way of scheming, plotting and jogging of positions, is about to manipulate itself onto the GEBE board. All of this is involving a hotel owner, politicians, people involved in education, even people awaiting sentence, among others.
What struck me is that mention was made that one of the persons, who has a popular nickname and who also will be interviewed for a position on the GEBE board, has gotten questions which will be used during the interview, to make sure that that person gets on the board.
This is debatable, but because time and time again it has been proven that there is no smoke without fire and that the schoolchildren are miles ahead of investigators, I believe that if government does not stop this radical attempt to get rid of the present board of GEBE which, as mentioned before, has financially bailed out government on several occasions, government will again prove that government is not of good faith.
Government has to insure that GEBE does not fall in the wrong hands. If it was not known before COVID-19, via via has exposed mass corruption in the government of St. Maarten. With all of this known, I think it would be criminal not to investigate/screen the potential directors of GEBE along with their associates and financial supporters, or even better “leave the present board of GEBE in place”.
We need solar energy! St. Maarten has enough hills to provide any kind of solar energy as well as wind energy, not to forget water tanks above each village. We need a solution for that fuel clause.
Russell A. Simmons
