Philipsburg:--- Prime Minister Sarah Wescot Williams tried to explain the decisions she took not to entertain the dissolving of the Parliament of St. Maarten that was proposed by the majority of Ministers that were appointed by the National Alliance last week Tuesday.
The Prime Minister made several clarifications on Wednesday at the Council of Ministers' weekly press briefing. Those clarifications regard what exactly took place in the Council of Ministers' meetings last week Tuesday when she submitted an advice to dissolve the Wescot Williams II Cabinet and what happened this past Tuesday during the Council of Ministers' meeting. Wescot Williams said that whatever transpired in the Council of Ministers' meeting is supposed to remain private but since there is information regarding these meetings in public domain she believes that she has to set things in its right perspective.
Prime Minister Wescot Williams said the letter that was sent to the President of the Parliament and to her clearly states that the Wescot Williams II Cabinet no longer enjoys the support of majority members of Parliament, based on that letter she drafted an advice to have the Ministers of the Wescot Williams II Cabinet tender their resignation but that advice was voted down by the majority. While the eight Members of Parliament in their letter said that the Government of St. Maarten no longer has the majority support, the same eight Members of Parliament held an illegal meeting on Monday and passed a motion of no confidence against four of the seven Ministers, namely William Marlin, Roland Tuitt, Silveria Jacobs, and Romeo Pantophlet, they did not state their opinion of the two other Ministers which are the Prime Minister Sarah Wescot Williams and Minister Cornelius de Weever who also form part of the Wescot Williams II Cabinet. Minister of Justice Roland Duncan has tendered his resignation since last week Friday and while the Prime Minister voted in favor of the Ministers tendering their resignation, she herself has not tendered her resignation neither did Minister of Health Cornelius de Weever. It should be noted that the Prime Minister and Minister De Weever were appointed by the two Members of the Democratic Party in Parliament.
The Prime Minister is also very peeved at the statements made by Member of Parliament Frans Richardson who spoke about her Zumba "U 2 Can Move". Wescot Williams said that she takes offense to the statements about Zumba because in her opinion those statement are disrespectful towards women who have to exercise and diet in order to maintain good health. She said there are a number people on St. Maarten with hypertension, diabetes, and other grave illnesses and while she is not a medical doctor she is fully aware that women in particular have to take care of themselves by moving.
The Prime Minister is also very much annoyed that the Deputy Prime Minister William Marlin drafted a Landsbesluit and sent it to the Governor expressing the decision of the majority of the Council of Ministers. She said she is the only one that has the authority to speak on behalf of the Council of Ministers, she further stated that there is no such thing as a Deputy Prime Minister.
When SMN News asked the Prime Minister to express her opinion about the illegal meeting held by the eight Members of Parliament while the President of Parliament and the Griffier were present, Wescot Williams did not want to give a clear cut opinion on what transpired on Monday in Parliament neither did she say whether or not the meeting that was held by eight MPs was in keeping with the rules of order.
Wescot Williams said right now the focus is not on election, instead it is about the dissolving of Parliament and how the majority of the Council wants it done. Furthermore, Wescot Williams also did not want to share her opinion on the integrity of the eight MPs who have accused each other of various crimes and while being implicated in the Bada Bing video tape which is now being investigated.
Prime Minister to Politicians Criticizing Zumba, U2 Can Move: "You who are ridiculing this move join me and say to the women of St. Maarten that it is about you first so that they can live a healthy lifestyle."
The Prime Minister of St. Maarten the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams invited politicians, especially those in Parliament, to stop criticizing her U 2 Can Move Health Campaign, where the PM encourages especially women to maintain a healthy lifestyle, and to join in in her call encouraging women to take better care of themselves. "I want to make a call to especially the politicians who criticize my Zumba activities: it is not about Zumba, it is about encouraging and empowering especially women, and this is where I would want the politicians to join my call, in motivating women to take care of themselves first and to look after their health. Zumba is part of the U 2 Can Move Campaign, a campaign that is so important considering the statics of hypertension and diabetes on our island, statistics of amputees on our island. And then to have some politicians who use the fact that I am saying to especially women and mothers to look after your health as if that is the worst thing imaginable. I am not a medical doctor but I know a few basic things: diet and excersice make a difference and it is about the realization that we need to keep moving, that we need to stay active. So rather than making fun of the fact that I believe that exercise and diet can also include Zumba, I encourage Politicians and Parliamentarians who are ridiculing this move to join me and say to the women of St. Maarten that it is about you first so that you can meet your responsibilities within the community. That is what I would like to see happen. Women too often try to be everything for everybody except to herself. We encourage and support women to ensure that as far it is in their power that they act healthy and remain fit," concluded the PM.
The Prime Minister has stated previously that the Zumba sessions and other events are a part of a larger fitness campaign where she encourages Civil Servants and the community in general to take their health and fitness seriously. "There is much we can do for ourselves as individuals and as a country as far as good health is concerned. Information, diet and exercise are the basic ABC's to good health and are valuable in any situation. I want to encourage our health institutions, practitioners and NGO's in this field to focus on educating our community on aspects of health and I call on all, especially our women, to take responsibility for their health, regular check-ups, and to heed warning signs such as aches and pains," the Prime Minister said.
From the Cabinet of the Prime Minister