The Tribune

THE developer of Blackbeard’s Cay off Nassau has been named in St Maarten press reports in connection with a bribery claim that reaches to the highest levels of government in that country.

However, Samir Andrawos – who has plans to turn the island off Cable Beach into an excursion destination for cruise ship passengers – told The Tribune last night the St Maarten press got it wrong, as he has “nothing to do” with the deal in question, having sold his interest more than a year ago.

Last month, according to the St Maarten News Network (SMN), members of the UP Party disseminated claims that a top government official got kick-backs in order to move a $100 million project, known as Justice Park, forward.

The article named Mr Andrawos as the developer of the project.

And, SMN claimed that according to well-placed sources, negotiating with the government on behalf of Mr Andrawos were Prime Minister Sarah Wescot-Williams’ son Andy Wescot and son-in-law Gary Matser – which has led to calls for a conflict of interest investigation because Mrs Wescot-Williams voted in favour Justice Park twice.

However, on March 21, SMN quoted Prime Minister Wescot-Williams as saying “she had no idea who the negotiators are, she also said she has no knowledge of kick-backs that were given to anyone.”

She pointed out that if UP members have credible information about wrongdoing, they know what they should do with it.

The report also quoted Minister of Justice Roland Duncan, who was representing the government in the negotiations, as saying “he does not know where people are getting this kind of information from because he has no money to give kick-backs to anyone.”

SMN said Mr Duncan added that even if Andy Wescot and Gary Matser are representing Mr Andrawos, it does not mean they got kick-backs. According to a May 7 report, he later confirmed that these were indeed the individuals he was negotiating with.

Yesterday, Mr Androwos said: “No, definitely not. I have nothing to do with that project. I sold my interest to WP Carey, which is a big New York hedge fund, a year and a half ago, and have the documents to prove it.”

Mr Andrawos also insisted that no one negotiates on his behalf, as he has lawyers who represent him.

Meanwhile, the Netherlands government, which still retains control over certain areas of St Maarten’s affairs, has moved to prevent the construction of Justice Park.

The local newspaper The Daily Herald reported on April 26 that Dutch Minister of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations Ronald Plasterk said: “The CFT (Committee for Financial Supervision) has clearly stated that the financing proposal of the Justice Park is not allowed under the Kingdom Law on Supervision. The CFT deems it necessary to possibly give an instruction to stop this,” Mr Plasterk told the media.

The Daily Herald said the CFT considers the loan structure for the project to be too expensive.

“The Kingdom Government is very worried about the financial situation in St Maarten,” said Mr Plasterk.

Already mired in controversy, the Justice Park project was identified as one of the issues contributing to the collapse of Mrs Wescot-Williams’ government by a group of politicians last week Friday.

According to the newspaper Today, eight politicians from different parties called for several ministers to resign over a number of issues, particularly budgetary concerns.

DP faction leader Roy Marlin said that he is “disappointed” in the performance of the Council of Ministers.

Touching on a number of issues, he added: “I loudly protested the Justice Park, because that was an instruction waiting to happen. The possibility of an instruction is still hanging over our heads.”

The report said that at that press conference, MP Roy Marlin confirmed that the Justice Park plan had been “killed in its present form.”

Mr Andrawos was also in the St Maarten news in February, this time in connection with an earlier Olzina NV construction project.

According to an SMN report, the Government Accountant Bureau Office St Maarten (SOAB) interviewed senior building inspectors in connection with claims that Olzina constructed buildings without the relevant permits.

SMN said the committee wanted inspectors to explain why no building stop was issued in 2008 since there was no building permit in place for buildings situated in Cay Hill.

Olzina NV, registered in St Maarten, is currently listed as being associated with Blue Water Tours in Nassau, described on trade information resources as each other’s top supplier and top customer respectively.

Meanwhile, in the Bahamas, downtown Nassau businesses have expressed “grave concerns” about the plans for Blackbeard’s Cay. They said it will suck cruise passengers away from Bay Street, further eroding revenues and profits in an already-weak economic environment.

Tourism Minister Obie Wilchcombe initially seemed to suggest the government was also wary of the project, saying Prime Minister Perry Christie has directed officials to investigate the redevelopment.

But then, following a meeting with Mr Andrawos and Carnival Cruise Lines, the minister said all concerns have been “assuaged.”

He said the proposal involved cruise passengers “staying on the island for two-three hours, and still shopping on Bay Street.”

Despite fears that 2,000 to 3,000 cruise passengers would be ferried to Blackbeard’s Cay – and therefore away from Bay Street – each day, Mr Wilchcombe claimed the maximum number will be closer to 300-350.

However, downtown merchants claim the project would be unworkable based on those numbers, considering the initial $5 million investment and the intended employee base of 200.