~ Also no permit for new location ~
PHILIPSBURG--There was never a permit issued for the use and renovation of a domed structure as a church in Belvedere by a group of the Methodist denomination.
The Daily Herald was reliably informed that the Island Government in 2008 had issued a building stop and demolition order for the structure as the property had already been designated for the construction of a sports field.
This information is in direct contradiction to Commissioner Frans Richardson's statement that the group had a permit for that location. Additionally, the Executive Council has also not handled or issued a permit for the construction of a new Methodist church at a different location as yet.
It was also disclosed that the cost of the church, some half a million guilders, is listed on the unapproved island budget for 2010 and has been questioned by the Democratic Party faction in the Island Council.
Sources indicated that the Methodist group received a verbal "green light" from St. Maarten Housing Development Foundation (SMHDF) to use the domed structure. At the time, SMHDF was using the structure for storage after contractor Ballast Nedam had concluded its work on the Belvedere homes.
The group did not secure the permission of the Executive Council to use the property and as such, could not claim that the government had made a mistake. The domed structure and the property upon which it sits are property of the Island Government.
Despite those facts, Commissioner Theo Heyliger and former commissioner Sarah Wescot-Williams in 2008 were not in favour of demolishing a place of worship, even an illegal one, and offered the group government's assistance in locating an alternate parcel of land. The Methodist group wanted the government to also construct the building, but the government at that time refused.
As additional assistance, the government said it would look at the group's request for compensation for work already carried out. No decision was taken on this request.
Eventually, a parcel of land was found next to the TelEm station at the entrance of Belvedere with the intention that the group would construct its own church with its own funding.
However, when the National Alliance-led government came into office, the aforementioned agreement was changed to include the government holding an open bidding process and constructing the building. Clarity could not be had on this issue in particular since the policy has been for the government to only issue subsidies to churches or church foundations, not outright construction of church buildings.
According to Commissioner Richardson, ground breaking for the church is next Saturday, March 6, but construction will not start immediately.
All attempts to obtain clarity from government officials regarding the government's plans to construct a Methodist church in Belvedere have proven futile thus far.
Officials of ROB Department, SMHDF, Commissioner Frans Richardson, and Lt. Governor Franklyn Richards were all unreachable.
Concerned residents have stressed that the government has to provide the "complete story" to the public, in particular, how much money the group behind the project had already committed to the renovation of the dome in Belvedere and if it was equivalent of what the government was slated to spend.
The Daily Herald has learned that this amount was about US $50,000, much less than Naf. 500,000 that has been budgeted for the new church.
The group behind the project reportedly "didn't even have to build a new building," but could have used an existing one. Some speculated that no way could the construction cost half a million guilders. Questions are also being asked about appraisal reports and whether the government will also furnish the building.
Commissioner Richardson, earlier in the week, said the government had committed to constructing the church as compensation for "a mistake government made." He did not provide any additional comments.
