WILLEMSTAD — Several contractors who have worked on the new construction of the University of the Netherlands Antilles (UNA) consider going to court to sequestrate UNA’s flow of income.
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These contractors have been waiting for payment of their final invoice since the turn of the year. To their astonishment, they learned that ‘there are no funds available’. For that matter, the Social-Economical Faculty is already using part of the new building.
The contractors have summoned Rector Magnificus ad interim Rupert Silberie, who is currently abroad, to settle the matter. The companies that had conducted work in their specialist field – construction, electrical installation, interior, etc. – during the entire project, cannot understand there is no money left at the end of the ride of a project that is budgeted and conducted in phases. While one contractor is still owed 50,000 guilders, the other is waiting for his 300,000 guilders. Irrespective of the outstanding amount itself, all contractors state they need the money to manage their affairs. Every day, they check whether any transfers were made in the meantime. Nevertheless, several contractors think they have waited long enough and want to go to court, while other contractors do not want to pull their punches yet.
Figures untraceable
It is not clear whether main contractor MNO Vervat has been paid either. It is known that architectural firm Plan D2, who designed the new construction, was hired by the UNA to supervise these building activities. Upon indication of this firm, the various phases and activities are considered completed, followed by payment. General manager Hugo de França, the link between Plan D2 and the UNA, had already been suspended six weeks ago, in the line of a disciplinary measure.
As it now appears, this measure had to do with the general manager not supplying swift and complete information to Silberie – in his opinion – on the administrative accountability of the new-construction project budgeted at 14 million guilders.
An accountant firm, which Silberie had called in to unearth the figures of this new construction, had also experienced many difficulties in retrieving data because a considerable amount of the organizational and financial information on the new-construction appeared to be incomplete and drawn up in an unusual manner.
De França might institute legal proceedings against his employer. He had already hinted at this, two weeks ago when his suspension had been prolonged, and unjustifiably according to him. However, the fact remains that De França had not submitted certain data to the Rector Magnificus ad interim within the agreed upon deadline – which was promptly followed by his suspension – and this data is still untraceable.
It is not clear whether the current internal investigation would be completed within two weeks – on the other hand, it would be exceptional if one were to prolong De França’s suspension once again.
It is not clear whether main contractor MNO Vervat has been paid either. It is known that architectural firm Plan D2, who designed the new construction, was hired by the UNA to supervise these building activities. Upon indication of this firm, the various phases and activities are considered completed, followed by payment. General manager Hugo de França, the link between Plan D2 and the UNA, had already been suspended six weeks ago, in the line of a disciplinary measure.As it now appears, this measure had to do with the general manager not supplying swift and complete information to Silberie – in his opinion – on the administrative accountability of the new-construction project budgeted at 14 million guilders.An accountant firm, which Silberie had called in to unearth the figures of this new construction, had also experienced many difficulties in retrieving data because a considerable amount of the organizational and financial information on the new-construction appeared to be incomplete and drawn up in an unusual manner.De França might institute legal proceedings against his employer. He had already hinted at this, two weeks ago when his suspension had been prolonged, and unjustifiably according to him. However, the fact remains that De França had not submitted certain data to the Rector Magnificus ad interim within the agreed upon deadline – which was promptly followed by his suspension – and this data is still untraceable. It is not clear whether the current internal investigation would be completed within two weeks – on the other hand, it would be exceptional if one were to prolong De França’s suspension once again.
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