Bas Roorda to contest legitimacy of dismissal

November 11, 2011 4:49 AM

PHILIPSBURG--Former head of the Finance Department Bas Roorda will appear in court again on Wednesday in his pledge against what he considers his illegitimate dismissal by Country St. Maarten.

In May, Roorda lost the injunction in which he sought reinstatement on his job, but the judged granted his request to hear four witnesses concerning his dismissal for violation of the pledge of secrecy.

The witnesses to be heard are Justice Minister Roland Duncan, Finance Minister Hiro Shigemoto, Ministry of Finance acting secretary-general Sherry Hazel and Council of Ministers secretary Cassandra Jansen. These witnesses have not yet been heard by a judge in the Court of First Instance.

Roorda became head of the Finance Department on December 2, 2009. He informed a senior policy worker of the Finance Department on March 30, 2010, that he would report to the Federal Detectives alleged systematic misappropriation of monies at the Tourist Office.
Roorda's plan was discussed with him in a meeting of the Council of Ministers, during which he was requested not to act hastily. Nevertheless, Roorda informed the Council that he would persist with his plans and file a complaint at the Prosecutor's Office.

He received a letter that same day in which he was informed of his dismissal as per May 1, for violation of the pledge of secrecy. However, Roorda claims he was fired for reporting alleged crimes.

According to the Judge in the Court of First Instance, Roorda's dismissal was legitimate and not "unreasonable." Roorda will be contesting this position in Wednesday's case in which he will be contesting the legitimacy of his dismissal.

"This case will only deal with my unfair dismissal," Roorda explained. "This has not been discussed in court yet. The previous lawsuit only dealt with the payment of wages and re-employment. Now, the legality of my dismissal will be point of discussion."

"Problem is that Country St. Maarten is trying to put up a smoke screen which, in fact, has nothing to do with my dismissal. They claim that I would not have been functioning properly. But if this was true, they should have told me so and should have given me a poor assessment. But I never received a bad assessment, only increased pay," said Roorda.
Roorda will request the court to declare his dismissal null and void. He seeks payment of his salaries until the expiration of his contract as per December 1, 2012, amounting to NAf. 270,037.50, plus vacation pay.

According to the former head of finance, he was dismissed because he knew too much, which made him a threat to Finance Minister Shigemoto.

"Because I had a good working relationship with the former Island Council, Shigemoto also considered me to be the enemy. Shigemoto has consistently sabotaged the former Executive Council. Correspondence revealed that immediately after taking office he ordered me to be replaced. However, the Secretary General never followed up and also never informed me of this decision," said Roorda.

Roorda may be considered a whistle blower where the misappropriation of pocket money for business trips of Tourist Office personnel is concerned. "I can easily position myself as a whistle blower because I have nothing to lose in St. Maarten. My family is in Holland. I don't have to live here or make a career here. Someone who does will be careful to expose things like these. If somebody has to do it, it better be me," according to Roorda.

The alleged misappropriation of money at the Tourist Office is still under police investigation.

(Source: The Daily Herald St. Maarten)

8 November 2011