All these questions below I sked in previous meeting of the budget debate in the Central Committee in early June and then in the Public meeting the end of June and until this day, 3 months later no answer so here we go again Minister.
Hopefully we get them this time around.
- When it comes to the streetlight maintenance contract I’m surprised that the cost of electricity is still so high when all lights should be LED and the cost should drop easily by some 50%. Why isn’t that reflected in the budget? Presently still ongoing replacement of the LED lights – Had to be done in the previous contract already – So what’s happening? Why is the government carrying the cost of bad management in GEBE. REASK
Policies Questions for the government
- What is the water pricing policy for the schools of the country and is this stipulated anywhere? Water is killing the schools with the fuel clause and now a barrel just passed $ 80 dollars per barrel. Fuel clause going sky rocket now for all of us.
- Is there a maximum set that government owned companies can make as profit especially when they have a concession or a monopoly?
- Will the relief for senior citizens continue at NV GEBE as it was in the past?
- What’s government policy regarding:
- the production of water?
- the investment into the distribution network and the management of the water distribution?
- Can we get a copy of said agreement that is presently being used and the original agreements?
- How does the approval of maintenance to the network take place exactly and are the tender procedures in compliance with government regulations?
- What is governments net profit on the water distribution taking leakages and other water loss into account. Who is responsible for the loss due to leaks?
- What’s governments involvement and authority with the fuel clause calculation?
- Does the ministry of TEATT have any say in this and if no why not? If yes what exactly do they do with the calculation?
- The fuel clause built up has various components that make it difficult to understand. Fuel, lubricants and also a 8.5% for something etc. What type of cost is this exactly?
- What’s the government plan or policy when it comes to the National Energy law of 2013 with regards to how we use and produce energy on this island? Are the fuel prices not a clear signal of what’s happening and still to come?
- What is governments position when it comes to the government owned companies adhering to the laws of the country specifically when it comes to pension age versus the CLA and the new SZV wage limit in 2022 for sickness insurance coverage?
- Advices of Corporate Governance and their values to the government. Will all government owned companies have to follow the same path as PJIAE where the corporate government council is concerned (be subjected to the corporate governance council for approval of implementation of policies and agreements)
- Screening laws for board members of government owned companies and councils and entities of the country. Is it a requirement by law that proposed board members MUST fit a specific profile to fill that specific board position as described by law or not? Are all the new board members presented filling those criteria’s as I believe corporate government council didn’t agree with such. In other words if you have on e profile for legal is it filled by legal yes or no in the present batch of names?
- Does GEBE have any rules and regulations regarding leaking of information to the media by its supervisory board members, management team, employees or affiliated companies? I notice nothing is happening and most of GEBE’s dirty laundry and alleged wrongdoings are on the social media pages and blogsites.
GEBE and our Economy
- What’s the shareholders role in the future development of NV GEBE and the impact it can have on the economy? Think on reliability of the engine park and the non-training of personnel for the engine park maintenance?
- Compliance with their electricity concession article 14, to have since 2015 2% of their then present grid capacity be produced by alternative energy? We are 6 years further of the date and 10 years after they signed the concession!
- The presumed abuse of the fuel clause calculation which is passed on to the residents and businesses needs to be addressed otherwise the cost of doing business cannot be sustained in this country. What’s the shareholders plan for such seeing they granted the concession according to GEBE and the shareholder made the price structure in May 2011?
- Minister are you aware that all the streetlights need to be LED and are already paid for since the first streetlight contract? I ask this as your previous answer to me alludes to the fact that this still has to be reviewed and completely replaced. Some 2000 have already been replaced. The issue is the cost of electricity is the responsibility of GEBE to carry the loss due to their noncompliance with the contract. Can this be reviewed and the savings for government be corrected?
Alternative Energy + water supplying/Distributing
- What are the financial benefits in maintaining the status quo at GEBE presently as to moving on to alternative energy?
- Saba has already started the move to solar energy. Any plans for St. Maarten to follow suite? If so, when?
- The Council of Ministers received a presentation from a local fuel company on the island to go into various alternative sources of energy and in particular solar energy. What’s the governments position to this option and how will NV GEBE be incorporated in this project/program?
- The waste to energy proposed by the World Bank is extremely costly. Will alternative options be sought for such and will the WB monies be made available to carry this out?
- How much is money is made by the government every month on the sale of water exactly?
- Produce 18.000 m3 per day @ Naf 4.50 per m3 = Naf 81.000,-
- Water loss 25% = Naf 20.250,-
- Cost distribution 10% = Naf 8100,-
- Cost water purchase Naf 2.00,- per m3 = Naf 36.000,-
- Average PROFIT per YEAR = Naf 5.4 million
- If the water loss would go to about 10% the government would make an additional Naf. 3 million making the overall profit Naf. 8.3 million
- How much monies does government invest into the water distribution network that they own? Who approves these investments?
- The grid market that is in the roadmap of sustainable energy covers what exactly and how this tie in to GEBE wanting to purchase new engines and the countries National Energy Policy?
