fbpx
Published On: Sat, Sep 28th, 2019

Sarah: Financing reconstruction PJIA Airport can not be revoked

Sarah Wescot-Williams

PHILIPSBURG — “World Bank/EIB financing for the reconstruction of the Princess Juliana International Airport can not be revoked – despite attempts to thwart the process and put our livelihood at risk.” says MP Sarah Wescot-Williams in a statement issued on Saturday.

The present majority coalition in parliament does not want to hear anything regarding the Princess Juliana International Airport. That is the contention of MP Wescot-Williams.

“How else can they explain the embarrassment created in Thursday’s parliament meeting about the very airport?” Wescot-Williams asked.

According to Wescot-Williams, the Deputy Prime Minister, who is totally unfamiliar with the topic, went out of his way to provide the information requested by members of parliament back in August. The Deputy PM promised to be back at 4 pm. “Lo and behold, the chairperson of parliament using the clock in the hall, proceeds to open and adjourn the meeting in a blink of an eye. He could not wait for the minister to return, the very minister who had come to parliament because he was summoned by the Chairman!”

Earlier in the meeting, the Chair had patiently waited for the same minister to arrive, explained Wescot-Williams. “So why not at 4 pm?” The only reason this was done was to make it seem as if the minister was being belligerent, Wescot-Williams further explained. “Like the minister, my colleagues and I looked on in disbelief at the actions of the Chair. If they so wanted answers on the airport, the Chair could have adjourned until the arrival of Minister Smith.”

Wescot-Williams stated in her press release that the majority coalition in parliament does not want answers. “They are long passed that. What they want is the meeting on the airport to get to the stage where they can halt the process of the reconstruction financing for the airport from the World Bank/Trust Fund and EIB loan.”

“Their subtle threats to the airport’s CEO have not gone unnoticed.” Wescot-Williams remarked.

“But guess what, in the coming days that process will become irreversible and the airport reconstruction will start in an affordable and sustainable way. Any attempts to thwart the process and go for the proverbial bird in the sky will be futile.” Wescot-Williams concluded her statement.

In the meantime, Deputy Prime Minister Wycliffe Smith have also issued a statement with his take on the matter as well.

###

Related stories:
Smith: MP Frans Richardson the only one who apologized