Judge to rule next week on
VROM Head’s suspension
PHILIPSBURG--The Court in First Instance will give his opinion on the suspension of Head of Environmental Planning and Policy Department VROM Delano Richardson on Wednesday, September 26.
Richardson was suspended on September 4 in connection with the issuance of permits for the Indigo bay project.
The court dealt with Richardson’s petition to have his suspension lifted on Wednesday afternoon during a hearing which was held behind closed doors.
The Executive Council had suspended the VROM Head for reportedly sending the developers of Indigo Bay a memorandum which enabled them to carry out work on the property without a revised planning permit.
Richardson was suspended pending an investigation into this matter.
During Wednesday’s court hearing, Richardson requested the judge to lift his suspension because this was in his eyes an unfair, unjust and drastic disciplinary measure.
The Island Government has declined to comment on the matter, saying matters pertaining to civil servants are not discussed in public.
Richardson’s legal representative, attorney-at-law Maarten le Poole, said that Island Government had told the Court that Richardson should remain suspended pending the outcome of the investigation in this matter.
“My client wants his suspension lifted immediately. He wants to be at his desk and on the job again next week,” Le Poole said, adding that an extensive court procedure would be launched in case the judge would decline his client’s request.
