Island Council denies former
club dancer director’s licence
PHILIPSBURG--With four votes in favour and three against, the Island Council rejected on Monday La Chinita N.V.’s request for a director’s licence on behalf of Vicky Machin Gomez.
The at-times-emotional debate lasted from 10:00am to 3:55pm before a decision was taken. The National Alliance (NA) voted against because the Executive Council presented counterarguments that were not valid and correct, NA leader William Marlin said.
The Executive Council believed Machin Gomez had tried to circumvent the labour laws of St. Maarten and tried to obtain a residence permit through a director’s licence. It suspected this because Machin Gomez had worked in the past as a dancer at the adult entertainment club “Platinum Room.”
After Machin Gomez resided on the island on a worker’s permit as a dancer, Chinita, a clothing boutique, requested a director’s licence for her on January 10. The Executive Council denied the request on February 23 based on advice from the Cabinet of the Lt. Governor that she was trying to circumvent the labour laws of St. Maarten.
She appealed on March 15 and on August 16, after the appeal hearing, the conclusion was to confirm the decision of the Executive Council.
Economic Affairs Commissioner Maria Buncamper-Molanus said the request had been denied in the general interest and because the Executive Council believed the island wouldn’t benefit from this venture.
Also, Machin Gomez indicated that her clientele would be high end, being American and French tourists, “but during the interview said she did not speak French and had difficulty to speak English,” the Commissioner said.
Another questionable matter for the Executive Council was that the boutique would rent a store at La Palapa for only US $500 per month.
Buncamper-Molanus asked the Island Council to support the Executive Council’s decision to deny the request for business and director’s licences. The Commissioner noted how determined Machin Gomez had been in wanting to stay on the island. “While applying for a director’s licence she also applied for a new dancer’s licence. What does she want to become?” she asked.
She added, “St. Maarten is paradise for our people and we should be determining who joins us and helps us into growing further.”
Another issue the Executive Council raised was a bank book Machin Gomez had submitted to show she had the finances to start a business. The bank book had a beginning balance of US $35,000 on April 20 and the balance was increased to US $47,000 on August 30.
“The bank book was opened after the director’s licence was declined by the Executive Council on February 23 and after the appeal was submitted on March 15, 2007,” Buncamper-Molanus said in an effort to make clear that it was another way Machin Gomez had tried to influence the process.
While agreeing with the Executive Council that misuse was being made of directors’ licences to obtain residence permits, the National Alliance did not find the counterarguments of the Executive Council valid in this particular case and queried whether the Executive Council had been on a witch-hunt.
