Unbiased look at the Sint Maarten Elections
Ernest Sams and Claret Connor
PHILIPSBURG--Tourism and Economic Affairs Minister Ernest Sams says there’s “no truth whatsoever†to the rampant talk in the community on Tuesday about his supposed plan to resign from his post.
His colleague Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure VROMI Claret Connor has also batted down similar talk saying: “I respect this office and I will not get into any public debate†on “public melee.â€
The country, he continued, is “already dealing with the impasse†between Parliament and the
Connor, who has been a minister since December 2014, added, “I was born and raised in Philipsburg. The community raised me and raised me with respect. If I had plans to resign, the first people I would tell are my colleagues.â€
Sams, who is in office for just over a month, told The Daily Herald, “I firmly believe the position Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs took is in the best interest to move this country forward. This government has realized many problems of the past and is still working to rectify them until such time one way or another.â€
Sams said after the motion of no confidence passed by the new coalition of the National Alliance (NA), Democratic Party ((DP)), United St. Maarten Party (USP) and MPs Silvio Matser against the Council of Ministers, “A good potential investor has already had a change of heart based on government instability.â€
The Marcel Gumbs Cabinet continues to hold strong to its decision to dissolve Parliament and hold new elections on December 8.
The motion of no confidence was passed against the minister on September 30. The cabinet reacted by moving to dissolve Parliament as per Article 59 of the Constitution.
With this latest shifting in Parliament, St. Maarten is on her way to her fifth government since attaining the status of country-within-the-Dutch-Kingdom.
