Maria, Sky is the Limit at
centre of new controversy
~ Marlin asks about cheque from Harbour Group ~
PHILIPSBURG--National Alliance (NA) released on Tuesday a letter it had sent to Lt. Governor Franklyn Richards requesting information about a cheque The Sky is the Limit Foundation reportedly had received from the Harbour Group of Companies earlier this year.
The cheque apparently was received by the foundation headed at the time by Commissioner Maria Buncamper-Molanus around the same time the foundation had also received a controversial donation of NAf. 25,000 from the St. Maarten Telephone Company TelEm.
According to the series of questions asked and requests made in the letter dated August 18, signed by NA leader William Marlin and sent to the Lt. Governor, NA apparently had received information that for some reason the cheque, which already had been endorsed by Buncamper-Molanus, had been returned to the Harbour Group of Companies.
“Is it true that a cheque was given to The Sky is the Limit Foundation which was later returned to the Harbour Group of Companies or to the Harbour Company that issued the cheque?” Marlin asked Richards, to whom the letter was sent in his capacity as the shareholder representative of the Harbour Group of Companies.
“Is it true that the cheque was endorsed by Maria Buncamper-Molanus? May we receive a copy (both back and front) of mentioned cheque?” Marlin also asked.
The amount of money involved was not stated in Marlin’s letter, but according to information reaching The Daily Herald, the cheque in question apparently was for US $16,000.
Marlin said his series of questions was being submitted “in order to get complete clarity on this matter and for the sake of good governance, good corporate governance and transparency.”
Based on the questions posed in the letter, National Alliance seems to be trying to establish whether Buncamper-Molanus had knowledge of donations going to The Sky is the Limit Foundation, something she had denied when questioned in the Island Council about the TelEm donation.
“It was recently brought to our attention that earlier this year a cheque from the Harbour Group of Companies was given to The Sky is the Limit Foundation. It also appears that after the cheque had been given to a representative of The Sky is the Limit Foundation, the foundation was asked to return the cheque to the Harbour Company.
“It was further brought to our attention that when the cheque was returned by The Sky is the Limit Foundation, it had the signature of Buncamper-Molanus at the back of the cheque, endorsing it for deposit into the account of The Sky is the Limit Foundation,” Marlin explained in his letter to Richards.
NA wants to know if The Sky is the Limit Foundation had requested a donation, contribution, sponsorship or any form of financial assistance and or support from the St. Maarten Harbour Group of Companies, collectively or individually, for the past 12 months.
The party also requested information about who had made the request on behalf of the foundation, when the request had been made and if a copy of the request could be obtained.
Marlin also asked: “What was the amount given to The Sky is the Limit Foundation and was it approved by the Supervisory Board of Directors?
“Who were the members of the Supervisory Board of Directors at the time of the request and the decision to grant the cheque to The Sky is the Limit Foundation?
“What was the reason for returning the cheque? Who made the request to have the cheque returned? Was this request made verbally or in writing?
“If the request was made in writing, may we receive a copy of said request?”
In the case of the TelEm cheque, the request for the donation to The Sky is the Limit Foundation, with which both Buncamper-Molanus and her husband Claudius Buncamper were associated as key players, was made by Claudius who at the time was also a member of the TelEm Supervisory Board of Directors.
These facts, compounded further by the fact that Buncamper-Molanus is the Commissioner of Telecommunications, led to charges of conflict of interest and nepotism, to Claudius Buncamper resigning from the TelEm Supervisory Board of Directors, to the commissioner tendering her resignation on June 18, and to the Island Council passing a motion of no confidence in her that same day.
However, notwithstanding these developments, Buncamper-Molanus continues to serve both as Commissioner with responsibility for Telecommunications (and other portfolios) and as a member of the Island Council. (See related story on page1).
