5 per cent yearly increase
in bridge fees proposed
PHILIPSBURG--Commissioner Louie Laveist says he will propose allowing a yearly five per cent increase of the Simpson Bay Bridge fees.
The Simpson Bay Lagoon Authority Corporation (SLAC) will then be able to reach its economic goals without the Island Council having to be consulted each time. “It will be something similar to the Princess Juliana International Airport and the St. Maarten Ports Authority,” Laveist said.
He said during Monday’s public meeting of the Island Council that the proposal to allow annual increases in the fees was not just about repairing a bridge, but was a structural vision.
The Executive Council came under heavy criticism from opposition party National Alliance (NA) when it became clear during the meeting that a report from the Dutch Minister of Transport and Water Works stated that the Simpson Bay bridge needed urgent repairs.
SLAC’s financial situation then became part of the discussion. After paying the Island Territory a fee of NAf. 12,000 in 2003, SLAC had been unable to comply with the other projected payments of NAf. 18,000 in 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007.
Laveist said SLAC had been suffering losses under the current tariff structure. “They have a lot of tasks to carry out, all with financial consequences. The increase of fees will be in line with the preparation of investment for the new bridge.”
NA also asked about the financial statements of the company not being in order. A decent audit of the company has never been done because the company has been in a start-up phase since its establishment. That is the reason internal control of figures up to 2006 has not been done adequately.
“Maybe 2006 and 2007 will be the same,” NA Councilman William Marlin said.
He queried whether in this situation SLAC would be requesting more money for repairs on the bridge.
Laveist said SLAC had five employees: two bridge operators, one managing director and two clerks. He said the structural approach in which government was engaged was aimed at arriving at solution for this situation.
