Unbiased look at the Sint Maarten Elections
PHILIPSBURG:--- Member of Parliament Christopher Emmanuel did not mingle with words during the parliamentary debate on the establishment of an integrity chamber on St. Maarten that was held on Monday. MP Emmanuel said that people need to stop blaming the Dutch for everything and blame the person that places the country in the position it is now. Emmanuel said that it is the Minister of Justice of St. Maarten who flew to the Netherlands and signed the protocol that everyone are contesting. “It’s one of our own that did it to us.†Emmanuel then quoted former US President George Bush who once pointed to the twin towers and said they will get the guys that were responsible for its destruction. He asked who are the people that have St. Maarten where it is that now that everything is about integrity.MP Emmanuel called on the Minister of Justice to do his job in the justice realm which is to go after the Dutch to ensure that they fully equip the Prosecutors Office and to ensure that the Prosecutors on St. Maarten do their jobs. He asked the Minister if he knows the name “Linden Lewis†Lewis is a detective who was suspended for alleged dereliction of duty after he gave a sworn statement in a murder investigation. “That officer did his job to best of his ability and reported something that is wrong and he was sent home, while another person Cynthia Hok A Hin who committed fraud when she wrote her own advice and back-dated it to become a permanent employee of KPSM, yet that person is still working at the Police Station, all of which he said that the Minister of Justice is fully aware of.†Emmanuel said that when the Minister of Justice signed the protocol he "Emmanuel" was in Curacao at the time and the Members of Parliament of Curacao called an emergency meeting to vote on a motion to ensure that no Minister place them (bind their hands) in a position like the Minister of Justice of St. Maarten did to the Parliament of St. Maarten. Emmanuel said what the Minister did was tantamount to treason since it is an integrity breach. Emmanuel even mentioned the situation at GEBE where the Prime Minister overruled a decision that was taken by the Supervisory Board of Directors of that Government owned company, while they speak of hands off approach or body length approach. The National Alliance MP chastised the Minister of Justice for not returning to Parliament to debate the draft ordinance to establish an integrity chamber. “The people of St. Maarten did not vote for the two of you, they voted for this body and we are the ones that has the authority to decide what is best for the country and its people.†He said that the LLMA has lots of articles that deals with integrity and he also wants to know why those articles in the LLMA are not being used.MP Frans Richardson in his remarks made clear that he never said that he had any intention to bring a motion of no-confidence against the Minister of Justice. He said that it’s the media that created that hype and for him the political party is basically vindicated. MP Richardson said that the two Ministers said that they do not need Parliament to sign any agreement or protocol. MP Richardson said that St. Maarten has several integrity organs and yet they are looking to establish another one which according to him will not serve any purpose. MP Richardson asked what is next in line for St. Maarten from the Dutch Government. He said that they built a country to reflect St. Maarten and its people but today the people and politicians on St. Maarten are pushed aside while the Dutch act.MP Richardson assured the Minister of Justice that he has nothing personal against him but they do have political differences. He further stated that the Minister now has a huge shoes to wear because he will have to go back to The Hague to make the changes that the Parliament of St. Maarten wants in the protocol to establish an integrity chamber.In responding to MP Frans Richardson Minister Richardson said that he wants MP Frans Richardson to know that Integrity does not fall under his portfolio. “Just for you to know that Integrity falls under the Prime Minister and the Prime Minister is responsible to the UPP party and not to anyone else. Secondly, I have to let you know that no Member of Parliament owns a Minister, Parliament has a majority that governs the Council of Ministers and not an individual Member of Parliament.â€As the Minister continues he also addressed MP Christopher Emmanuel whom he told that what he did by mentioning names of civil servants on the floor of parliament was not correct. Minister Richardson said that mentioning names of persons from the civil service only damages them. He said that if the MP has problems with what transpired in his Ministry he could always go to him directly and he will investigate and give him the facts on what transpired. In the cases you mention you have your facts wrong and you could come to me and I will give you the facts."MP Frankie Meyers who acted like an outlaw during the Central Committee meeting when the draft ordinance was debated acted differently on Monday. He said that changes must be made but agreed that the Ministers does have the authority to sign off on protocols He said that he was a Minister in the past and he knows the authorities Ministers have. MP Meyers outlined the amount of changes that must the made to the signed protocol, one being that the protocol cannot be binding. Secondly, he felt that people that are being investigated have the right to plea the fifth and not be forced to incriminate themselves. The list of changes that MP Meyers announced could change the entire protocol and it should also be clearly stated that its a law from St. Maarten while the chairman must be from St. Maarten since St. Maarten people are the ones to decide their future. He spoke of the protection for whistle blower, he felt that if the whislte blower is protected then it is only fair that if the whilstle blower is caught falsely accusing people, then it must be punishable. He also felt that article article 7 must be removed which deals with foreign workers. He said that St. Maarten already have the LTU which deals with the regulation of foreign workers and the admittance and expulsion of foreigners. MP Meyers also announced that the Council of State did inform the Kingdom that what they were trying to do by placing the island under higher supervision was illegal since St. Maarten is busy working on establishing an integrity chamber.Minister Richardson confirmed that changes can be made, but Parliament needs to take into consideration the risk they are taking when making changes to signed protocol. Minister Richardson said that he managed to take off invoking article 51 (higher supervision) off the table but he cannot guarantee that the Dutch will not issue an instruction depending on the changes that are being made.MP Theodore Heyliger did not agree with what was explained he said that if that is how things will go then the Dutch will do as they wish and then the chips will fall where they have to fall.A suggestion was made for the meeting to be adjourned in order to give the Ministers an opportunity to reflect on the changes. While the suggestion was seconded, MP Leona Marlin felt that St. Maarten should seek outside advisors to better structure the protocol. She suggested that the Council of Ministers should make contact with Professor Trevor Monroe the keynote speaker at the Governor’s symposium for guidance.MP William Marlin considered the meeting of Parliament on the establishment of an integrity chamber as the making of history on St. Maarten. Marlin said that the draft ordinance and the protocol are Siamese twins.The meeting was adjourned until further notice.
Click here to read the statements made by MP Franklin Meyers when the draft ordinance was first debated in a Central Committee meeting
