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Govt had no contact with Johnson about Mullet Bay
by The Daily Herald
Posted: Jan 5, 2006 14:51 UTC
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PHILIPSBURG - There has been no contact between prominent US businessman Bob Johnson and the DP government about the re-development of Mullet Bay, said Commissioner Sarah Wescot-Williams. Democratic Party (DP) Island Councilwoman Maria Buncamper-Molanus has asked a number of questions regarding the issue.
Wescot-Williams said Wednesday that no government official had been invited to Johnson’s small reception on board the megayacht Dream moored at Port de Plaisance Tuesday evening. She said government had not been given the opportunity to give its views on Mullet Bay. Members of government never had a meeting with the businessman in question on this issue, she said.
Johnson, Chairman of BET and board member of Hilton Hotels, in an interview with The Daily Herald on Tuesday reconfirmed his interest in the Mullet Bay property that was destroyed by Hurricane Luis in September 1995. He said government had the obligation to look out for the greater interest of the island and should assist in facilitating the redevelopment of the property.
Wescot-Williams explained that it had been decided during a meeting of government with stakeholders, Ambassador Hushang Ansary and Mullet Bay Property Owners Association last year to meet on a regular basis to see if a solution could be reached to redevelop the property. No meeting was held in December, but she said she suspected a meeting would be held shortly in which parties would give an update on the process.
In a letter to Chairman of the Island Council Lt. Governor Franklyn Richards, Buncamper-Molanus pointed out that this was the second time she had read about Johnson’s “obvious continued interest” in St. Maarten in general and Mullet Bay specifically.
“If I’m not mistaken, the first time this issue appeared in the media, political parties in St. Maarten were campaigning for the 2003 Island Council Elections. From the article I also learnt that Mr. Johnson has been coming to St. Maarten for the past 25 years and we welcome him and many others who have been long-term visitors to our island,” she stated in the letter.
Buncamper-Molanus posed three questions regarding Johnson’s interest in the Mullet Bay property. She wanted to know whether Johnson had ever requested a meeting with the Lt. Governor or the Executive Council on this issue and whether a meeting had been requested through the intervention of a member of the Island Council.
Wescot-Williams explained during Wednesday’s press briefing that government had initially had a three-prong approach towards the redevelopment of Mullet Bay. One was a development plan, two was a possible amendment to the building code and three was expropriation.
Expropriation, however, is regulated by law and is always the last option when all other avenues have been exhausted, she explained. Also, a clear development plan has to be developed, she said.
Asked her opinion on the statements by some that this government has not been approaching this issue proactively enough, she said: “And others say tread with caution. We’re dealing with private property here.”
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