Member of Parliament George Pantophlet thanks the Minister of Finance Hiro Shigemoto for answering the proposals he submitted via the President of Parliament Gracita Arrindell to the Prime Minister Sarah Wescott Williams on suggestions to balancing the 2011 Budget.
There might be some who are wondering why the back and forth through the media. However while personal dialogue between the Minister and the Member of Parliament is an option, this way the people of St. Maarten can get the necessary information and voice their opinion on this very important subject, the 2011 Budget. The Member of Parliament said that he is well aware that the companies have financial obligations to lenders but having loans do not prevent them from making a profit from which dividends can be paid to the shareholders, the people of St. Maarten. It is a known fact that dividends can be used two ways; when the company makes a profit; it can be either reinvested in the company or it can be paid out to shareholders as a dividend. Or you can do both, invest some in the company and pay out the rest in dividends. With regards to the selling of shares, the Member of Parliament said that presently government owns 100% of the shares. He proposes selling 40 or 45% of the shares and maintaining the other 55%, by doing so government will remain the major shareholder and prevent any changes to the organizational structure that might have a negative impact on the companies.