Unbiased look at the Sint Maarten Elections
Dear Editor,
The new government is hardly in place and already I find myself having to comment on the behaviour of our political leaders during Parliament meetings. Let me say that I cannot say A said so and so when everyone knows that B said it. On Saturday, December 20, 2014, I read in the paper how the newly sworn in Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs said the country needs tranquillity, stability, civility and prosperity. In the meeting of December 22, 2014, the Prime Minister repeated that twice saying to the members of Parliament that the country needs tranquillity, stability and civility to prosper. And a little while after that the Prime Minister emphatically thanks the four members of Parliament who requested his presence in that meeting because he would go down in history as the first Prime Minister called to meeting within 72 hours of being sworn into office.
The Prime Minister also said that integrity must be shown by action. If we want to show example was it imperative for the Prime Minister to tell MP George Pantophlet that he did not sign the request for the meeting, whereas he was not sure if the other request was signed. Did the Prime Minister show integrity by patting himself on the back? Was that a civil remark or was that sarcasm? The way the MP's Wescot-Williams and De Weever retaliated to each other was that tranquil and civil? MP's William Marlin and George Pantophlet took advantage of the way the other MP's and the Prime Minister spoke and asked for others to follow certain positive examples. In my view integrity is already thrown out of the doors of the legislative hall. I HOPE the President of Parliament will use that gavel during meetings to admonish MP's of their civil behaviour in order to help right the Sint Maarten, because we do not want it to run aground. It is not what you say is the way that you say it.
That meeting of December 22 already is showing everyone that Parliament is up to its old tricks again. Mr. President was hardly used by those who went at each other, even though all communication had to go via the President. Throwing words at each other instead of bringing facts or something tangible to the table. Could the people of Sint Maarten ever expect 15 people who have to come together for the good of the country to get together and do anything civil when they are hounding each other publicly like that. Already I predict the same outcome as the former governments. Nothing done for the people and several more people under investigation.
The Prime Minister is talking about behind closed doors. Let me say this. With all the leaking and social media and lack of integrity and with the after meeting- meetings that are held in gathering places under a few drinks where things get loud and the bartenders and other visitors hearing everything, who needs closed door. Integrity my people. Just like I mentioned in the past about the transition from Island council to Legislative council, so also does the Prime Minister have to undergo that transition from Member of Parliament to Prime Minister. Along with that the Prime Minister has to realise that he is the Prime Minister of Sint Maarten and not the Prime Minister of the United People's Party. I agree that it will take tranquillity, stability and civility or even more than that to prosper, but it should start from above and all around. All of our resources and all the people should mean all of our resources and all the people.
Russell A. Simmons
