Haynes issues stern warning of need for
serious decisions within TelEm Group
PHILIPSBURG--While he was keen to show off his gifts during his farewell, Telecommunication Industry stalwart Curtis Haynes warned shareholder of the TelEm Group and Smitcoms N.V. that serious decisions had to be taken by them if they were to secure the viability of the companies.
Haynes thanked many persons for their support and friendship over the years and pleaded with the TelEm Group and Smitcoms N.V. personnel and union to work together with management to ensure the future viability of these companies.
Corporate Office, Management and staff of Smitcoms N.V. and the TelEm Group of Companies paid fond tributes to outgoing Smitcoms managing director Haynes, during a farewell dinner held in his honour Saturday at Beau Beau’s restaurant in Oyster Bay with past and present colleagues, close personal friends, overseas guests and members of his family in attendance.
The guest list included CEO of St. Maarten Telecommunication Holding Company N.V. and former Supervisory Board Chairman, Joe Richardson, former Telecommunications Commissioner Franklyn Meyers, and Supervisory Board members, Mr. Paul Marshal and Steven Constance.
Smitcoms U.S. attorney Curtis White, and a representative of Verizon Business were surprise guests at the farewell gathering. Haynes was showered with gifts including four items of jewellery, a montage picture of important moments with the companies, an inscribed plaque and a dream cruise for himself and his family.
Haynes commented that he would remember the farewell event for a very long time. According to a press release, Haynes spoke at length about the decision to leave the company and said he was not retiring but was rather entering another phase of his life in which other opportunities were presenting themselves.
Deputy Director Accounting and Finance, Helma Etnel, alluded to Haynes’ strong work ethic and his drive to ensure that St. Maarten remains in the forefront of the telecommunication field.
She said it was through that drive that the companies, TelCell, TelNet, Smitcoms and TelEm, had developed the way they had today, helping to provide the means to put food on the table for more than 200 workers and their families.
Etnel said, “You will be missed and your expertise and strategic vision will be missed and it is most sad that you are leaving the family of TelEm and Smitcoms.” Richardson thanked Mr. Haynes for his invaluable advice and expertise in the field of telecommunication which has been used on countless occasions by the Supervisory Board of Directors over the years, also for his dedication, commitment, vision and drive.
Myers also spoke briefly and said he had been able to share a bit of history with Haynes by bringing an undersea fibre cable from Puerto Rico to St. Maarten making it possible to increase bandwidth on the island and, with that increase, business potential for everyone.
Meyers said Haynes’ contribution has not only been to the TelEm Group of Companies and the company he built in Smitcoms N.V., but also to the economy of St. Maarten which has itself developed along with the telecommunications sector.
He said, “Everyone had thought Smitcoms with its three staff members would be pushed into a corner along with Mr. Haynes, but because of his commitment, he turned the company into the million-dollar company it is today.”
Farewell event organiser, Nataska Charles of Smitcoms N.V. thanked everyone who played a part in making the evening such an enjoyable one for Mr. Haynes among them toast-makers, Eldert Louisa, Chet Euton and Lucredia Mardenbrough.
She also thanked representative of the TelEm Group Personnel Association, Vivian Hyman and General Manager, TelCell, Mr. Brian Mingo for kind and encouraging words.
According to the release, “The terrible weather threatened to spoil it for everyone, but despite the downpours everyone turned out to have their say and join in a very special moment for Haynes and we would like to thank everyone for that.”
