SXMElections.com

PHILIPSBURG--Recently appointed Minister of Public Housing, Environment, Spatial Development and Infrastructure VROMI Claret Connor “seemed intimidated” by the coalition partners who appointed him in the post when he appeared before Parliament on Friday to answer questions from, in particular, opposition National Alliance and Democratic Party Members of Parliament about tackling the country’s garbage mountain.

DP leader MP Sarah Wescot-Williams said the “walkout” of some United People’s (UP) party and other coalition MPs was “a warning” to Connor to “do as you are told, or else ... That picture of those members leaving the hall at that specific time, spoke volumes. “Minister, be warned, if you slip up, woe unto you’ the action of the MPs seemed to convey.”

It is “regrettable” that Connor “could not put to rest the widespread allegations that, again, personal agendas are getting in the way of a solution for this ‘burning’ problem,” the MP said, referring to the constantly erupting fires on the landfill that looms over Philipsburg, the country’s capital.

She questioned in a press statement on Sunday why could Connor not answer in the meeting whether there is a current contract for a waste disposal plant, the purpose of his recent trip to Florida that came just days after he shed the tourism and economic affairs portfolio to take up that one of Ministry of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure VROMI; who is now leading this process - government, utilities company GEBE, individual politician(s).

“What part of these questions did the minister have to ‘prepare’ for? He got on a plane, right? He had an agenda, right? He met with persons, right? He knows their names, right? He knew what city or country he was in, right,” Wescot-Williams said.

The MP said it would be “interesting to learn” the amount of money already spent on this project due to individual politicians/ministers “going contrary” to advice and breaking agreements every time they “fancy a new opportunity.”

Claret Connor mentioned 1 time
Sarah Wescot-Williams mentioned 2 times

Democratic Party [DP] mentioned 2 times
National Alliance [NA] mentioned 1 time