SXMElections.com

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - MP Maurice Lake calls all political leaders to show political maturity and raise the bar to address the amendment to the Constitution.

I have listen keenly to the caretaker PM and the Minister of Justice and I have to say for two senior officials I have lost great respect for them for playing politics and making mockery of our Constitution.  

The caretaker Minister of Justice should know better as being part of the constitutional process for Country St. Maarten.

“The Constitution is the foundation of the supreme law of the land in St. Maarten and should be upheld, respected and amend before we talk about any elections.

How can you go into an election without amending your constitution which is the foundation of what principles your people stand for during an election. The intent of the Founding Fathers was for the Constitution to be a progressive document which would be amended as necessary to better suit the needs of future generations. 

“We have to amend our Constitution and some articles to define them clearer for some of our leaders to uphold with integrity and that needs all (well most) hands on board if we are to steer the course in a positive direction.  Any true Leader would stop the political rhetoric now and call their appointed Ministers in order to respect and uphold our Constitution.

“As an elected representative of the people, my allegiance was to uphold the Constitution and serve the people.  It is not just to show party loyalty. The Constitution is the guide which I never will abandon and is the foundation and pride of our Country.

“As we get ready to celebrate St. Maarten’s Day, as true Leaders we need to reflect and rise to the occasion and put aside party politics and start working for our people with a plan of action to move St. Maarten forward,” MP Lake pointed out. 

MP Lake stated he understands politics very well, but the Constitution is above everything when one is talking about Country St. Maarten. “How can you go into a snapshot election before constitutional reform and electoral reform to elect the same persons into Office with the same self interest and ideology? The people's intelligence needs to not be played with."

“Did the people call for an election or an appointed Prime Minister who disrespects our Governor, our Constitution and the people of St. Maarten? Does the appointed Council of Ministers have more authority than the elected representatives of the people in Parliament?  Does any political party foresee an outright win in this election knowing some of our leaders couldn't pass the screening to become Prime Minister and execute the priority projects within the Governing program because of self-interest for the people under the theme "We Ready"?  All of a sudden, the people seeing all the plans and priority projects being presented after the fact by the care taker government.

“Our appointed Prime Minister has to understand his position is an "honour position" to serve the people and execute the Governing Program and not to disrespect our Constitution. Our Prime Minister did make history with his behaviour and attitude of disrespecting our Constitution, our Governor and the people of St. Maarten, while some of our Leaders just sit back and entertain the circus and put our Governor in a compromising situation, and having to make a decision of pleasing all parties by signing a decree with discrepancies which is not in the best interest of St. Maarten.  I am in full support to annulled or amend the decree of the former PM incorrect premise and unconstitutional decision for speaking on behalf of the people which he never consulted in the first place.

“Did the Prime Minister forget he was appointed by ship jumping and did not once before address it during the integrity process and in our governing Program? How long are we not going to hold each other accountable despite living in a small community?

We need to put aside egos and understand that St. Maarten belongs to the people and does not belong to an appointed prime Minister and a selected few of politicians who doesn't put their people first.  St. Maarten people and professionals should be first in their own Country. 

“I will be one of the first to address ship jumping during electoral reform to bring more stability in Government. I didn't take such a bold stand because of power, position or money, but to raise the bar based on my principles and values of working in the general interest of the people.  I never asked any one of my Coalition members to do any illegal acts or personal favors other than to help our people based on our Governing Program in a correct and a legal manner but with a time frame. We need to look around and go in the districts and talk to the people to see if there is anything to smile about within the community.

“I was very embarrassed in the last meeting in the House of Parliament. Some of our MPs went against their own code of conduct by being present and walking out of meetings and constantly interrupting the Chairlady of Parliament. Some of our MPs should think twice before they speak in the house of the people because your words and influence will plant the seed of either success or failure in the mind of another.”