Commissioner responsible for Telecommunication and Aviation Affairs Sarah Wescot-Williams, met with Antillean Minister of Telecommunications Maurice Adriaens and his delegation on Friday morning in her office at the Government Administration Building.
Commissioner Wescot-Williams provided the Minister with an update on the current preparations related to receiving the authority from the Central Government for a St. Maarten Bureau of Telecommunications & Post, Shipping and Aviation Affairs, Meteorological Services, and Air Traffic Control.
Wescot pointed out that coordination of activities in preparation to receiving the tasks and responsibilities were critical to the process embarked upon, and that it must be done in an open and transparent manner in tandem with the Central Government.
Minister Andriaens was very pleased to get an update about the process and he stated that his ministry was readily available to assists wherever possible in making the process move forward without any major challenges along the way.
"I was glad for the opportunity to give the Minister and his delegation an update on our overall preparations for Country St. Maarten and in particular in the areas of telecommunications and transportation. In my introduction I informed the Minister that already six ministries have been approved by the Executive Council with only the Ministry of Justice which is still being worked on.
"The Minister was informed about the role of KPMG where it concerns organizational structure, legislation, resources and personnel. KPMG is currently assisting with studying the possibilities where the Postal Services are concerned. With respect to United Telecommunications Services (UTS), this will be part of the division of assets and liabilities of the Netherlands Antilles.
"Regarding Shipping and Maritime Affairs, the department in Curacao has organized training for our civil servants here with respect to the overall structure and administrative set-up, and this is taking place this week.
"The legal structure for our own Bureau of Telecommunications & Post (BTP) has been drafted and submitted to the Minister. BTP is one of the areas listed for transfer to the island government by July 1, the date that has been set on November 24, 2008 by the Island Government and the Central Government.
"The Island Government will continue to work with all parties concerned in an open and transparent manner in building the government and organizational structures for Country St. Maarten.
"It is very important that we have these types of engagements between both levels of government at the level of minister, as it would facilitate a much smoother process where it concerns the transfer of tasks and responsibilities," Commissioner of Telecommunication and Aviation Affairs Sarah Wescot-Williams told the Government Information Service (GIS) on Friday.