National Alliance councilman George Pantophlet is wondering what is happening with the 2009 Budget. He hopes that the 2009 Budget is realistic and that it does not follow the same trend as the unrealistic 2008 Budget. He warns against preparing a Budget dependent on debt relief. The commissioner of Finance Roy Marlin had commented some time ago that he would first present the Budget to the Council for Financial supervision. The councilman considers this a waste of time. No matter what the Council for Financial Supervision decides it is the Island council that has the final decision. The draft Budget should first be handled in a central committee meeting and then if everything is agreed upon it should be sent to the Committee for Financial Supervision. As a matter of fact the island council has not seen or approved the revised draft for the Council for Financial Supervision. Furthermore does St. Maarten have a representative on the Council for Financial Supervision? If so who is he/she? If not, why not and what will the consequences be thereof? Are the rules for the Council for Financial Supervision already established? If not, why not? And is this not contrary to the opinion of the Dutch that the Rule of Law must be upheld at all times?
