Unbiased look at the Sint Maarten Elections
PHILIPSBURG:--- The Court of First Instance was not at all lenient with Member of Parliament Silvio Matser who was convicted to 24 months imprisonment, 18 of which are suspended. MP Matser has to also do 240 hours of community service. His company Energizer NV was condemned to pay some Naf. 4.5 million guilders in fines. The case was prosecuted by Prosecutor Gonda Van der Wulp who got exactly what she demanded from the court.The decision of the court was handed down on Wednesday January 7th, 2015. Matser was charged with tax evasion to the amount of US $3.2 million in connection with non-payment of income tax, social security premiums for workers and turnover tax on behalf of his construction company.Now that Matser has been convicted he can no longer occupy the seat as a Member of Parliament, which opens the door for Maria Buncamper Molanus to become the next Member of Parliament. However, that too can be shaky for the United Peoples Party since Maria Buncamper Molanus has to appear in court on Wednesday afternoon to answer charges of tax evasion. The case against Maria Buncamper begins today (Wednesday) January 7th, 2015. The performa hearing starts at 2pm. Even though Buncamper Molanus is facing criminal courts for tax evasion she can still occupy her seat as a Member of Parliament until her case is finalized. However, MP Silvio Matser is now officially suspended as a Member of Parliament until the his conviction becomes irrevocable.What this means for St. Maarten financially is despite the fact that the country is in dire financial predicament the Parliament of St. Maarten will still have to pay MP Master his salary until his conviction becomes irrevocable, while paying the incoming Member of Parliament.
Click here to view the decision rendered on Wednesday.
