Sint Maarten News

NEVER HAVE I SEEN SO MANY “FRIENDS” BACKSTABBING EACH OTHER: THE S4 BOARD NEW DIRECTOR


Re: FW: Update S4 Board (3) New Director‏ 

 

From: Linda Richardson (edudept_lar@yahoo.com) 
Sent: Wed 2/06/08 4:51 PM
To: Julian Rollocks (julianrollocks@hotmail.com)

 

for your info

handle with discretion

Try and convince her to get the treasurer on as soon as possible.

Thanks for your support.

Will call you tomorrow morning.

your cous’

Linda Richardson <edudept_lar@yahoo.com> wrote:

Date: Wed, 6 Feb 2008 12:17:03 -0800 (PST)
From: Linda Richardson <edudept_lar@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: FW: Update S4 Board (3) New Director
To: Sarah Wescott-Williams <comed@sintmaarten.net>

Dear Comed,

 

 

Thanks for your reaction. Was trying to get hold of you on the phone to talk to you.

 

 

First, I would like to express my sympathy to SXM Government, people, and the Holiday family, got the shocking news. In the meantime, I contacted the son Sylvester (one of S4-students) to extend support and encourage him to continue to walk tall. Just last week he participated in a debate at Erasmus University. I was proud of him and the only other St. Maarten student, Ernst Smit, who proudly and intelligently held their own in a full room of mainly Curacao students. Mito Croes and Alwin Toppenberg were present and admired us; said that we (st. maarteners) had that fire that Arubans had long ago. Also the Wereld Omroep was very impressed with especially Ernst Smith. I felt like a proud mom.

 

May I assure you again, that I really hate bothering you with a matter that in my opinion could have been solved internally long time ago. But, since John Leerdam has been bragging that he put his wife on S4 board, and recruitment agencies have been approached with the intention to recruit a new director per 1 april 2008 and all suggestions of other candidates for the Board, including St. Maarteners are being shelved, I thought I had to request your involvement to at least request Brenda to approach the persons I proposed to serve on the Board asap. It is very worrisome and illegal to have one person on the board who acts as president, treasurer and secretary. It is imperative that a treasurer be appointed urgently. I think that once this happens, the assumed crisis will be more than 50% solved. With the appointment of Brenda Brooks and Calvin, the crisis can be totally solved as they can look after the interests of st. maarten and its students whether I am the director or not and whether or not Brenda remains and puts her friends on the Board.

Also it is important to halt the recruitment agencies until the budget is approved, 15.000 euros have been put on the budget for recruitment agency. (vriendjespolitiek!)

The impression was given by Brenda and Peter that the government of St. Maarten agreed with them to appoint a new director per 1 april 2008 and contract a recruitment agency.

 

Re: M. Brooks

 

. Comed, I am fully aware that there are people (cowards) who hide behind the frock of those bigger than them and so create animosity between people. It has been happening to me also here at S4. Staff and students are told of certain decisions that supposedly were taken by me and that I know nothing off. Consequence, persons get upset with me and I do not always have the time not the energy to go around rectifying the lies.

 

In the same vein, MBrooks seems to be pretty upset with you and sees this as another sign that you don’t like her. She indicated that when she was on holidays in sxm in december, the Director approached her to mediate in the conflict between the Board and me. She was surprised since she was not aware of a conflict, and was interested to do so, but just before returning to the Netherlands she was told by Head A.O., that her name was given to you, but that you preferred to contract an agency. Her reaction: While she could have done the mediation for free, you prefer to contract an agency that would have to be paid.

 

MBrooks heard for the first time of a problem at S4 at the Dept of Education in sxm. As a matter of fact, since I always involve her in S4 activities, I asked her if she was not interested in joining the Board and she declined stating she will help look for persons. She did and when she contacted Brenda with names for the Board, was told that Board is working on profiles.

I spoke to Comm MBM about 2 different settings in which St. Maarten was not painted favourably. Regrettably, I did not tape any of these meetings, but in future will do my utmost to tape lectures etc. I generally only take notes.

Last Saturday, I attended a lecture organised by PPAAA (Organisations for Antillean politicians in the Netherlands), delivered by CU member, Cynthia Ortega-Martijn, who was part of the parliamentary delegation, that included Brinkman. Although she gave a pretty good overview of the constitutional developments, there were some statements that were qestionable, for example: Since I was born in aruba, I would need a visa to enter the new st. Maarten. I asked her to repeat this several times and she was cocksure about this.

St. Maarten will not get Separate Status if the crime situation as is described in WOCD report is not cleaned up. At that point in time, another Curacao politician stated that will never happen as St. Maarten politicians are tied to the maffia and cannot let go. According to her she had lived in st. maarten and knew what she was talking about. At that time, I took the floor and explained that Justice, Immigration and Police were Central Government departments that had neglected. Martijn then indicated that 15 marechaussee have been sent to SXM, upon which Chong (2nd Gevmin) said that they too will get corrupt as has happened in the past.

 

Martijn Ortega also:

She never knew that St. Maarten hated Curacao that much. That this became clear on the trip.

 I do not think this lecture and discussion was recorded by the organisation. Will still ask.

As far as very negative statements by John Leerdam are concerned regarding the status aparte of sxm, this incident took place in 2006 during his campaign. I will see who organised the debate and if I can still get the tape. (I had heard from students when I arrived here that he speaks very negatively about st. maarten in the media and I confronted him about this, and he denied this, but I had been able to experience his disrespect for sxm first hand)

 

At the debate, after I asked if the PvdA will continue the policy of VVD that at least had respected the will of the people, he really put down sxm and sxm politicians, stating how he has to help sxm politicians when they are here, for they do not know what they want and that they were not interested in the cause of status aparte or in the poor people of the island, but more in who will become Prime Minister and Ministers of the new country. He then turned to Mavis and said that he was not talking about her party.

it is known here in the Netherlands among Antilleans and Antillean politicians that Leerdam is not trustworthy and speaks with several tongues. Apparently, upon return of the parliamentary delegation Brinkman had a shouting match with John Leerdam accusing him of being 2-faced since he would have provided Brinkman with negative info on the islands and afterwards did as if he was not aware or even criticised Brinkman.

Will also see if that was documented. if so, will send info on that too.

 

I understand that you have been invited to speak at the Recruitment Days (Passaat) in May.

 

I would like to propose that we organise a meeting with the students or a lecture for st. maarteners in holland to give information about the new st. maarten. I think it is important.

 

Kindly let me know if you think it is a good idea. The meeting of Marietje and the students was highly appreciated during her visit

 

Thanks for the follow up re Calvin and Angelique. Really need the assistance for more reasons than one.

BE BLESSED

Linda

 
Sarah Wescott-Williams <comed@sintmaarten.net> wrote:

From:

Sarah Wescott-Williams [mailto:comed@sintmaarten.net]
Sent: Wednesday, February 06, 2008 11:23 AM
To: ‘Linda Richardson’
Subject: RE: Update S4 Board (3) New Director

 

Dear Linda,

 

I have taken good note of your 3 emails and do concur that the situation at/around S4 is not a healthy one, to say the least. I don’t want to get in the “who say, who didn’t”, but I need to state that the issue regarding M. Brooks being approached and then dropped is totally unknown to me. Given your emails, I am more convinced that some neutral person, if not to mediate, need to give the SXM government some direction in this whole matter. It is getting out of hand and fast.

 

Commissioner MBM has also told me of her telephone conversation with you and I was quite interested in the forum in which SXM allegedly was painted black. Do you know if any recording was made of this, video or audio? Could I get a copy?

 

I will follow up on your request for Calvin and Angelique to visit.

 

Stay well.

 

Regards,

 

Comm. SWW

 

From:

Linda Richardson [mailto:edudept_lar@yahoo.com]
Sent: Tuesday, February 05, 2008 8:21 AM
To: Commissioner Wescot-Williams
Subject: Update S4 Board (3) New Director

 

Dear Comed,

The subject indicated above requires your urgent attention. I regret the length of the email, but felt the need to provide background information.

After the request by the EXCO to the Board to send an evaluation of my functioning, several discussion were held with Brenda, Peter and myself, particularly with P. In those talks he assured me that once my contract with government is expired, s4 board will employ me for a few years. We even discussed that this would allow me to take care of my youngest daughter who choose to study in USA.
At the time, I was very certain that P with whom I had a good relationship for years, meant well and was looking out for my best interest

In April 2007, the board sent a rather nice letter/evaluation about my functioning to the EXCO just before Peter left for holidays. One day before he leff he again reassured me that I should not worry since S4 Board will employ me. At the time it was not known whether my 2-year contract would be renewed by SXM.

At the end of June, I travelled to sxm to do the orientation course for the new students and upon my return on July 10th, 2007 I collapsed and ended up in the hospital. In other words, I did not see/speak to P. for almost 6 months.

In october, P. visited the office and indicated that he and Brenda had met outside of the office and had made some decisions.I noticed a totally different attitude; neither did he express support or sympathy for me. He indicated he was informed by Brenda of my illness. He stated that:
1) He and Brenda had decided to ask the other 2 Board members to resign. Franklin Wilson in Saba too will be asked to resign. I pointed that a board of only 2 persons is illegal.
I indicated that officially the Board should inform the Government of SXM of my illness, which has not yet been done. He answered that since I am on sxm government pay-roll I should inform the Government of St. Maarten myself.
2) He, Brenda and me will be going on a working trip to St. Maarten in november.
Although I indicated that I was not yet well — was only allowed to work 4 hours a day – and would rather have the trip postponed, he said he and Brenda wanted to be there for St. Maarten’s Day.
3) With the EXCO of St. Maarten he and Brenda was going to discuss the pressure that S4 office undergoes when information comes late to Holland from SXM and the need for a better communcation between S4 and SXM.

I also expressed my concern regarding the functioning of the office and indicated that the office should have gotten support during my absence. Mr. Sorton did his best within his capacities. The outcry and complaints of the students were tremendous. please note that the complaint in the papers was initially not meant for me, but the article was twisted – not by the students – to include me. .

I was surprised to hear that Peter had spoken to you about my replacement, since I had been speaking off support for the office and even compared my situation to that of Magda Rafael who was also ill and her Board got support for the office in the person of Jacques Veeris.

Just before the trip to SXM, I learnt from Peter for the first time that he and Brenda had concerns about the change of personnel at S4. I gave several reasons for that including, the fact that S4 does not have a personnel policy and that the Board needed to approve the CAO Welzijn asap. Also on more than one ocassion the board had advised to let someone go, when i was still in doubt.
No meetings were held with me prior to the visit. Sorton was instructed to deposit in Brenda’s account funds for a laptop that she supposedly purchased in connection with the trip and that she keeps with her.

It was not until I got to SXM, that I learnt that the board was not happy with my functioning with respect to thandling personnel. At that time I also learnt that the Board was going to be recruiting a new director.

Upon return to the Netherlands Molenaar dropped in at the office. Then I found out that – unknown to me – he had requested Hiro for copy of my salary slip. When I asked him what was the reason, he said that he needed to know what to pay new Director. He also mentioned that the Commissioners had given him the green light to appoint a non-St. Maartener as S4 Director.

While he complimented me for the good job I am doing with students and the great network I had build up to assist S4, he indicated that I had a flaw since I could not get around with staff. He gave me the impression that several persons in sxm also agreed with him on this.
Because of this, he was bringing a new Director at 5000 euro a month as per April 1. He would have to understudy me for some 10 months!!! to get the knowledge I have. I could then assist S4 with P.R. towards parents and students, since he saw that I was excellent in that.
He also said he discussed my health with his daughter and that she indicated that it is certain that I will not be able to get a job again due to past illness.
I was shocked and speechless. I had sleepless nights, as I saw this entire episiode as a sign of betrayal and very unethical. Had to remind myself not to stress myself too much.

Van der plas was instructed by P. to budget 5000 euro for monthly salary for new Director (initially it was supposed to be a colleague at inspectorate) as of April 2008 as well as 30.000 euro for a recruitment agency owned by Brenda’s friend.. When he was told that he would have to justify the 5000 euro for a Director of a small foundation, the 5000 was dropped to 4000 with the intention that the person will get other secondary benefits.

In the meantime, two Antillean recruitment agencies were asked to submit proposals to recruit a Director as per Arpil 1, 2008. One of the agencies visited the office with Brenda (her friend) during my absence, where they talked to the staff about my functioning. (Highly unethical!)

A situation with 2 directors at the same foundation for 10 months may create a problem that could have farreaching consequences.
Now already, I am facing some insurbordination from Sorton as a result of his daily communication with Brenda and him being more inclined to listen to her than to me.
In addition, under these circumstances I will definitely not train anyone for 10 months. (Not mijn zuster de negerin)

Kindly note that i have been advised to contract a lawyer, which I hate to do since that would mean that i would be taking S4 to court, which could lead to S4 having to compensate me with funds meant for students. For me too, having to get a lawyer means additional stress and extra expenses. But with the manner in which matters are going right now, I would have no other option.


In order to avoid a further escallation of this situation, I wanted to update you on the matter and propose that you have someone contact Brenda and ask her discontinue with the recruitment agency since the liquidity budget is not yet approved.

Hope to have informed you sufficiently,

Linda

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From: Linda Richardson (edudept_lar@yahoo.com) 
Sent: Tue 2/05/08 7:21 AM
To: Julian Rollocks (julianrollocks@hotmail.com)

For your information,
this matter is stressful.
Will meet with lawyer next week.
your cous

Linda Richardson <edudept_lar@yahoo.com> wrote:

Date: Tue, 5 Feb 2008 04:20:49 -0800 (PST)
From: Linda Richardson <edudept_lar@yahoo.com>
Subject: Update S4 Board (3) New Director
To: Commissioner Wescot-Williams
Dear Comed,

The subject indicated above requires your urgent attention. I regret the length of the email, but felt the need to provide background information.

After the request by the EXCO to the Board to send an evaluation of my functioning, several discussion were held with Brenda, Peter and myself, particularly with P. In those talks he assured me that once my contract with government is expired, s4 board will employ me for a few years. We even discussed that this would allow me to take care of my youngest daughter who choose to study in USA.
At the time, I was very certain that P with whom I had a good relationship for years, meant well and was looking out for my best interest

In April 2007, the board sent a rather nice letter/evaluation about my functioning to the EXCO just before Peter left for holidays. One day before he leff he again reassured me that I should not worry since S4 Board will employ me. At the time it was not known whether my 2-year contract would be renewed by SXM.

At the end of June, I travelled to sxm to do the orientation course for the new students and upon my return on July 10th, 2007 I collapsed and ended up in the hospital. In other words, I did not see/speak to P. for almost 6 months.

In october, P. visited the office and indicated that he and Brenda had met outside of the office and had made some decisions.I noticed a totally different attitude; neither did he express support or sympathy for me. He indicated he was informed by Brenda of my illness. He stated that:
1) He and Brenda had decided to ask the other 2 Board members to resign. Franklin Wilson in Saba too will be asked to resign. I pointed that a board of only 2 persons is illegal.
I indicated that officially the Board should inform the Government of SXM of my illness, which has not yet been done. He answered that since I am on sxm government pay-roll I should inform the Government of St. Maarten myself.
2) He, Brenda and me will be going on a working trip to St. Maarten in november.
Although I indicated that I was not yet well — was only allowed to work 4 hours a day – and would rather have the trip postponed, he said he and Brenda wanted to be there for St. Maarten’s Day.
3) With the EXCO of St. Maarten he and Brenda was going to discuss the pressure that S4 office undergoes when information comes late to Holland from SXM and the need for a better communcation between S4 and SXM.

I also expressed my concern regarding the functioning of the office and indicated that the office should have gotten support during my absence. Mr. Sorton did his best within his capacities. The outcry and complaints of the students were tremendous. please note that the complaint in the papers was initially not meant for me, but the article was twisted – not by the students – to include me. .

I was surprised to hear that Peter had spoken to you about my replacement, since I had been speaking off support for the office and even compared my situation to that of Magda Rafael who was also ill and her Board got support for the office in the person of Jacques Veeris.

Just before the trip to SXM, I learnt from Peter for the first time that he and Brenda had concerns about the change of personnel at S4. I gave several reasons for that including, the fact that S4 does not have a personnel policy and that the Board needed to approve the CAO Welzijn asap. Also on more than one ocassion the board had advised to let someone go, when i was still in doubt.
No meetings were held with me prior to the visit. Sorton was instructed to deposit in Brenda’s account funds for a laptop that she supposedly purchased in connection with the trip and that she keeps with her.

It was not until I got to SXM, that I learnt that the board was not happy with my functioning with respect to thandling personnel. At that time I also learnt that the Board was going to be recruiting a new director.

Upon return to the Netherlands Molenaar dropped in at the office. Then I found out that – unknown to me – he had requested Hiro for copy of my salary slip. When I asked him what was the reason, he said that he needed to know what to pay new Director. He also mentioned that the Commissioners had given him the green light to appoint a non-St. Maartener as S4 Director.

While he complimented me for the good job I am doing with students and the great network I had build up to assist S4, he indicated that I had a flaw since I could not get around with staff. He gave me the impression that several persons in sxm also agreed with him on this.
Because of this, he was bringing a new Director at 5000 euro a month as per April 1. He would have to understudy me for some 10 months!!! to get the knowledge I have. I could then assist S4 with P.R. towards parents and students, since he saw that I was excellent in that.
He also said he discussed my health with his daughter and that she indicated that it is certain that I will not be able to get a job again due to past illness.
I was shocked and speechless. I had sleepless nights, as I saw this entire episiode as a sign of betrayal and very unethical. Had to remind myself not to stress myself too much.

Van der plas was instructed by P. to budget 5000 euro for monthly salary for new Director (initially it was supposed to be a colleague at inspectorate) as of April 2008 as well as 30.000 euro for a recruitment agency owned by Brenda’s friend.. When he was told that he would have to justify the 5000 euro for a Director of a small foundation, the 5000 was dropped to 4000 with the intention that the person will get other secondary benefits.

In the meantime, two Antillean recruitment agencies were asked to submit proposals to recruit a Director as per Arpil 1, 2008. One of the agencies visited the office with Brenda (her friend) during my absence, where they talked to the staff about my functioning. (Highly unethical!)

A situation with 2 directors at the same foundation for 10 months may create a problem that could have farreaching consequences.
Now already, I am facing some insurbordination from Sorton as a result of his daily communication with Brenda and him being more inclined to listen to her than to me.
In addition, under these circumstances I will definitely not train anyone for 10 months. (Not mijn zuster de negerin)

Kindly note that i have been advised to contract a lawyer, which I hate to do since that would mean that i would be taking S4 to court, which could lead to S4 having to compensate me with funds meant for students. For me too, having to get a lawyer means additional stress and extra expenses. But with the manner in which matters are going right now, I would have no other option.

In order to avoid a further escallation of this situation, I wanted to update you on the matter and propose that you have someone contact Brenda and ask her discontinue with the recruitment agency since the liquidity budget is not yet approved.

Hope to have informed you sufficiently,

Linda

Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mo

  

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