Dear Editor,

As the electorate become so familiar during election time, many promises are made by eager candidates vying for a seat in the new Parliament in Country St. Maarten, which by the way will ensure each member of parliament a NAf. 14,000 per month salary.

Apart from this inflated salary, we have learnt that the ExCo has signed a last minute rental contract to the tune of US $8 million for a "small castle" on Front Street to house these members of parliament for the next 7 years. Yes, spend US $8 million of our tax dollars and still not own any of this real estate after the contract expires.

A total lack of vision and lack of understanding that these kinds of backroom deals are totally inappropriate and confirms once again that our politicians are dedicated to the betterment of themselves, not to the general public - the ones that pay their expensive bills.

So to hear a candidate on the DP slate boasting in public that when the DP gets back in power, they "will not use the new Parliament building on Front Street", is all nice and dandy but how solid is this promise? Can the DP just break a newly signed contract?

Contractors can be seen carrying out the refurbishments. No doubt that furniture and other interior materials have been ordered - if they want to make the 10-10-10 deadline, that is. Will all of this be reimbursed? Is there a clause in the contract that levies a penalty when a breach contract takes place? Not to mention the cost of a possible lawsuit against government by contractor and/or owners of the building for loss of income.

Until the DP comes with a calculation of how much the total cost will be to breach this contract - pushed through the Island Council in the middle of the night by the NA - the only conclusion that can be drawn is that talk is very cheap, especially during election time.

Outraged Tax Payer