SXMElections.com

MARIGOT--The Territorial Council on Thursday authorised President Aline Hanson to obtain legal representation over the recent indictments handed down by the court on the present and former Director Generals of Semsamar in case the Collectivité is implicated in any way by virtue of being a 51 per cent shareholder of the company.

The motion was passed by the majority, however, Wendel Cocks who is President of the Semsamar board and other board members had to leave the room before the vote was taken.

Hanson said the Collectivité does not have access to the file and needs to have a specialist lawyer to represent the Collectivité as a precaution.

“The objective is for the Collectivité to be directly informed on elements of the case, not to come into conflict with Semsamar,” she said. “We support Semsamar and its staff, however, its projects and commitments are crucial and must be resolutely pursued for the continuation of our development programmes. Obtaining transparency will safeguard the general interest of all.”

The present Director General of Semsamar Marie-Paule Bélénus-Romana and her predecessor Jean-Paul Fischer were taken into 48 hour custody in Pointe-a-Pitre, Guadeloupe, at the beginning of the month where they were placed under judicial control and “mise en examen,” but later released on bail.

The Judge of Instruction’s decision was based on “suspicion of conflicts of interest, misappropriation of funds, and favouritism.”

The development is the latest in a three-year investigation into the operations of Semsamar and follows various revelations that emerged from the so called Milos report and audit of the company that included questions over the “exorbitant” salary of Bélénus-Romana.

The court case is ongoing.