PHILIPSBURG--Minister of Energy Affairs Theo Heyliger on Tuesday said that GEBE will have a new outlook with expanded activities once the shares of the company are divided and transferred to St. Maarten from Saba and Statia, giving the island 100 per cent ownership of the company.
Heyliger, speaking during the Council of Ministers press briefing, foresees a company that can, not only handle renewable energy and the like, but can finally delve into sewage and garbage initiatives, issues GEBE has done nothing with, although the intentions were there. He also foresees, possibly by 2013, a new name for the company considering its potentially expanded roles.
The minister confirmed that two current Supervisory Board members have resigned and that the process is underway to find two replacements. This process involves seeking advice from the Corporate Governance Council (CGC) on the nominated persons.
In this context, the minister said an "open-minded" approach must be taken when seeking new board members and, eventually, new management to replace the current interim situation. He said he considers the response of the current Chairman of the Board Julius Lambert, that he will stay on until his term expires in July and not resign as requested, as "unfortunate".
GEBE, the minister said, needs a "total new direction" and "new vision". He said GEBE cannot continue to overlook issues such as renewable energy, liquid natural gas for St. Maarten, net metering, a smart grid etc.
"We cannot continue to hear that we still have seaweed problems affecting the power plant. We cannot continue to see the price of oil going up and not do anything. We will expect a new board and management to come with solutions and initiatives. GEBE will be for St. Maarten and only St. Maarten and it gives us the opportunity to address our problems. Now GEBE will have to respond to government as its new shareholder," Heyliger said.
He said the recently signed MOU between St. Maarten, Saba and Statia will be ratified by the Council of Minister next week Tuesday. After the same is done on Saba and Statia, the governments of the three islands will issue a joint letter to GEBE's Shareholding Foundation, instructing it to transfer the shares. Heyliger expects this process to be completed by the end of April.
Once the shares are transferred, the Shareholding Foundation will be dissolved.
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