PHILIPSBURG:--- During a Question Hour initiated by Member of Parliament Egbert J. Doran, it was confirmed that although Parliament passed a motion proposed by MP Doran calling for monthly financial support for displaced Philipsburg Marketplace vendors based on minimum wage considerations, the relief implemented by the Minister of TEATT, Grisha Heyliger Marten, amounts to 100 guilders per month per vendor through waived fees.
MP Doran’s questions focused on the progress of the Marketplace reconstruction and the situation of displaced vendors who were relocated by the government to facilitate the project. In her responses, Minister Heyliger Marten confirmed that almost 500k guilders have already been paid to the contractor, even though the initial groundbreaking took place about a year and a half ago and construction has not progressed beyond preparatory works. The foundation phase has not yet begun, and a firm completion date cannot be provided.
The Minister maintained that the project remains on track procedurally under the FIDIC Yellow Book framework, despite the absence of active construction.
The contrast highlighted during the Question Hour was clear. The motion passed during the 2025 Budget recognized that displaced vendors were moved by government action and called for meaningful monthly support until they could return to a completed marketplace.
However, during Question Hour, it was confirmed that no stipend or income-replacement support has been implemented. The only relief currently in place is the waiver of vendor fees, translating into 100 guilders per month, despite displaced vendors operating from temporary locations with limited foot traffic and reduced income.
MP Doran also referenced earlier statements by the Minister indicating that she would work with the Ministry of Finance to explore additional financial relief options. During the Question Hour, the Minister stated that she was unable to provide an update on the status of those discussions.
MP Doran raised concerns about how the project's changes were handled.
He explained that when the scope of work or Bill of Quantities is changed, the project is no longer the same as what was initially approved or tendered.
Under the FIDIC Yellow Book, these are considered significant (or material) changes, not minor adjustments. Such changes must be properly reviewed, documented, and formally approved, because they directly affect the project’s cost, schedule, and delivery.
Importantly, if the change is substantial enough to alter the original tender conditions, it should go back out for a new tender to ensure fair competition, transparency, and equal opportunity for all bidders.
According to MP Doran, the Marketplace project had already been approved, signed off on, and contractually secured prior to his departure from office. Instead of proceeding with construction, changes to the scope resulted in delays and displaced vendors being left in prolonged uncertainty, without a clear timeline for when they can return to a functioning marketplace.