|
www.sxmislandtime.com
 PHILIPSBURG - The SHTA believes that the Executive Council has set a dangerous premise by stating that the State and Church are not separate.
Furthermore, Government has opened the door for every denomination (Catholic, Hindu, Jewish etc) to seek similar funding for their establishments.
The SHTA tried contacting Commissioner Frans Richardson and Lt. Governor Richards to get some insight into this decision, but they were both unavailable.
Secondly, the reasoning behind this action is questionable. Based on publications in the media, Government followed proper procedure by putting a stop to the construction of the church, where no permit had been issued.
Therefore, the need for compensation remains questionable. Under normal terms, this would have had to be dealt with by the courts.
Lastly, the SHTA is concerned about the lack of fiscal responsibility. Recent meetings with the CFT and the Executive Council revealed that Government needs to increase its revenue stream in order to balance its budget and thus all Capital expenditure needs to be prioritized.
The SHTA understands that this decision has not been approved by the Department of Finance and plans to follow all available avenues to have this decision questioned.
|
