SXMElections.com

PHILIPSBURG--United People’s party (UP) Member of Parliament (MP) Maurice Lake said on Wednesday that the country lacked effective leadership when it needs it most and noted that he had never experienced anything in his 23 years in the civil service, like he has in the past year and a half of him being an MP with the UP-led coalition.

Lake made the statements during a parliamentary meeting on Tuesday in which he supported a motion to send home the Gumbs cabinet via a no-confidence motion that was passed. Lake said he had worked in the civil service for 23 years, first as a civil servant, then as an advisor to government then as a Minister. He said in his more than two decades working in government, he has “never experienced anything like I am currently seeing and experiencing for the past year and a half in politics.” The MP said he knows politics as he has known and has worked with “the best.”

In the MP’s opinion and in the opinion of the public, whom he has heard from, effective leadership is lacking when it is most needed. “When I went into politics and I ran for the first time, I ran because I want to help people and pass laws to move St. Maarten forward.”

Lake said since he demitted office as Minister, little has been done for the people of St. Maarten. The MP campaigned for the August 29, 2014, elections on the theme that he was “ready” to serve the people of St. Maarten. He understands the “situation with the Dutch,” but he said this should not stop the country from executing proprieties and projects for its people. “We need to get back to basics and bring back stability, improve marketing, protecting and creating jobs,” he said.

He spoke about the expansion of the St. Maarten Medical Center (SMMC), which needs to happen and about the articles of incorporation of government-owned companies, which he said needed to be reviewed. Lake said foundations need to understand that they have to live up to the rules and stand up to the rules that exist.

He also spoke about calls being made to ministers and no response being given. Minsters, he added, do not even respond to the ombudsman, which is the guardian of the constitution. Lake said there were many things that can be done for the people of St. Maarten when it comes to issues such as affordable housing, the new government administration building and creation of jobs.

He said his decision to support the motion of no confidence against the Council of Ministers was “not personal” with his UP coalition partners whom he said he respected as he worked “very good” with them and had been “part of the team” for a long time.

He said, however, that “I have to live with my decision and my conscience. It wasn’t easy, but I have had sleepless nights and we can do more for the people. We have to stop making decisions based on politics and [do so – Ed.] in the best interest of the people. I want to assure the people that we will get back to basics by bringing stability back and... we need effective leadership to move our people forward.”