Judge lifts suspension of
VROM department head
PHILIPSBURG--The Court of Civil Servants Affairs lifted the suspension of Environmental Planning and Policy Department VROM Head Delano Richardson. Judge Luis de Lannoy ruled Wednesday that Richardson should be readmitted to his job.
The Judge said Richardson had the right to resume his work pending the outcome of the extensive court case in this matter. He ordered the Island Government to pay NAf. 1,400 in compensation for Richardson’s expenses for legal counsel. The Court further stated that if Richardson were not allowed back on his job, he would have the opportunity to turn to the Court again.
Richardson’s attorney Maarten Le Poole said last week that his client wanted to be at his desk and on the job again today, Thursday.
The Executive Council had suspended Richardson on September 4 for reportedly sending the developers of Indigo Bay, Cay Bay Estrades, a memorandum that enabled them to carry out work on the property without a revised planning permit. He was suspended pending an investigation into this matter.
During the court hearing held on September 19, Richardson had asked the judge to lift his suspension because this was in his eyes an unfair, unjust and drastic disciplinary measure.
The judge indicated in his ruling Wednesday that Richardson’s suspension was “defaming” and that his honour and good name had been tarnished.
The Island Government had stated during the court hearing that pending the investigation, measures had been taken against VROM’s department head to prevent him from making more mistakes, among which were mentioned neglect and not meeting his obligations.
However, the Court ruled that the Island Government had not indicated on what grounds it was afraid of more wrongdoing by Richardson.
