Emmanuel not surprised by actions of weak PM Jacobs, sneaky Knops Published: 13 May 2021
~ Says Doncher the latest scapegoat for govt. failures ~
PHILIPSBURG: - Independent Member of Parliament Christophe Emmanuel on Wednesday said the two things became very clear when State Secretary Raymond Knops once again blackmailed St. Maarten in return for liquidity: The Dutch government recognizes that they are dealing with a weak St. Maarten government and an even weaker Prime Minister and the professed integrity of the Dutch government is worthless.
In the aftermath of the letter, Emmanuel said the PM and her government put their weakness on full display when they suspended the Chairman of the airport holding board Dexter Doncher for doing what they (the government) supported all along, claiming corporate governance failures which, the MP said, ironically implicates the government for the failure of oversight. “At some point, it becomes about leadership. Where was t
Published: 11 May 2021
PHILIPSBURG: -Independent MP Christophe Emmanuel said that it is his opinion that the board of SMMC outright lied to the Minister of VSA Omar Ottley when it stated that the Australian national it brought in to run SMMC was here on an evaluation only. “The board knew full well what its intentions were until the plan got exposed,” the MP said.
MP Emmanuel highlighted last week that the board was going to appoint Grant Muddle, an Australian, as Director of the St. Maarten Medical Center. The MP also disclosed Muddle’s questionable history at his previous hospital tenure in Papua New Guinea and called for the reversal of the decision to appoint him post-haste. The MP also called for the dismissal of the entire board who feel like kings in their own castle. “So here comes the board back-peddling a lying. A total lack of acceptable corporate practices by making a “candidate” (their words) privy to hospital information he should not be privy
Published: 09 May 2021
~ Blackmail to fire locals unacceptable ~
PHILIPSBURG: -Independent Member of Parliament Christophe Emmanuel on Sunday once again urged Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs to “let Schiphol go” and not accept the indignity of having her entire country bow down to an institution like Schiphol. The MP said if there was any time the PM would have his support on anything, “this would be it. Do not bend your knee to another entity. Let the airport holding company lead the way and do their job.”
The MP, who has been urging government for the last few months not to renew the cooperation agreement with Schiphol Airport, said that Schiphol has been strategically placed as the new bully to blackmail St. Maarten into getting what it wants. He said State Secretary Knops and BZK have remained purposely quiet, while allowing Schiphol to be the bully.
Published: 07 May 2021
~ Questions if Knops using PJIA for liquidity support ~
PHILIPSBURG: - Independent Member of Parliament Christophe Emmanuel on Thursday called on Minister Silveria Jacobs to explain to the public why the cooperation agreement with Schiphol Airport is being renewed after two years of performance failure by Schiphol and demands that basically would lead to the complete takeover of the airport. The MP also said the PM has to be clear and inform Parliament and the country if State Secretary Knops and BZK (Dutch Ministry of Interior Affairs) are now using the cooperation agreement with Schiphol as a negotiating tool for liquidity support.
Published: 04 May 2021
~ Questions entire vacancy timeline ~
PHILIPSBURG: - Independent Member of Parliament Christophe Emmanuel on Tuesday revealed that the newly appointed Australian Director of the St. Maarten Medical Center Dr. Grant Muddle had what he called a “messy history” at his previous hospital tenure and called for the reversal of the decision to appoint him post-haste.
“If this is the same person, reverse the decision not only on those grounds but for the simple fact that this nonsense of appointing people from half way across the world over our own qualified people must stop,” MP Emmanuel said. “The entire board at SMMC has to go. They are there too long and they feel like kings in their own castle. They have no respect for the people of St. Maarten,” he said.