PHILIPSBURG:--- Members of Parliament from the National Alliance faction posed several questions to Prime Minister Sarah Wescot Williams on Monday regarding the Royal Decree issued by the Kingdom ordering the Governor of St. Maarten to conduct an investigation on integrity within the Government of St. Maarten.
The National Alliance Members of Parliament asked the Prime Minister to provide them with answers as to what prompted the Dutch Government to issue to such a decree to the Governor of St. Maarten. They asked if she really believes that the issues such as the fiber optic cable that the Dutch wanted to land on St. Maarten, the removal of the TOT on goods sold to residents of Saba and Statia, and the monies that were owed to them were the main reasons for the instruction given to the Governor of St. Maarten on September 30th, 2013.
Member of Parliament Louis Laveist read out parts of the explanatory notes of a letter sent to the Government of St. Maarten by Minister of Interior and Overseas Affairs Ronald Plasterk on April 4th, 2013. Based on that letter the Dutch Government claimed that what has been taking place within the government apparatus on St. Maarten smeared the image of the entire Kingdom. Minister Plasterk even asked what the Government of St. Maarten is doing to remove this negative image they created. Laveist said based on the instruction given by the Kingdom Council all organs and civil servants have to cooperate with the investigators. He asked the Prime Minister what prompted her to make the statements she made when The Hague made their position known. He said the reaction from the Prime Minister was not at all cute because the matter at hand was serious and not a laughing matter. MP Laveist said shortly after several statements were made by the Prime Minister and Minister of Justice about the Royal Decree they quickly made a 360 turn and decided to pull their tails between their legs and cooperate to some extent. Laveist said he wants to know what problem the Prime Minister has with the investigation ordered by the Kingdom and if she has something somewhere that she does not want the Kingdom or anyone else to know about. He further asked the Prime Minister what prompted her to form a committee to conduct their own investigation on integrity within the Government of St. Maarten. He wants to know if the Prime Minister is aware of some sort of nepotism taking place within government. He raised issues such as the completion of the Government Administration Building and other matters that has the attention of the Hague.
Leader of the National Alliance William Marlin asked the Prime Minister to give Parliament a copy of the Ministerial decree they drafted in order for the Members of Parliament to see exactly what the Government of St. Maarten wants to do. He asked who the six member committee would report to if they are to conduct an investigation on the integrity of government. Marlin said he believes that this committee should report to Parliament and not the Government of St. Maarten. The National Alliance Leader further asked the Prime Minister to explain to Parliament what happened to the National Ordinance that was sent to the Governor to sign off regarding the same committee. He said he wanted to know if the Governor signed the ordinance and if he did not what was the reason behind that? Furthermore, Marlin wanted to know why the Wescot Williams cabinet decided to change their strategy and have a Ministerial decree instead of a national ordinance. He also asked the Prime Minister to inform Parliament as to how Transparency International came into the integrity investigation. Marlin said he wants to know if the idea came from the US consulate in Curacao who informed the Prime Minister that the United States has some concerns about St. Maarten regarding human smuggling and if they are the ones that suggested that Transparency International conduct an investigation.
Independent Member of Parliament Frans Richardson also asked the Prime Minister for explanations since it has been exactly seven months since the Minister of Interior and Overseas Affairs made his position known to St. Maarten. MP Richardson said the integrity investigation is the hottest topic on St. Maarten and everywhere else, therefore clarity is needed on this issue. The MP said it's time for the Government of St. Maarten to stop confusing the people of St. Maarten and they should now tell the people what the legal basis is for the committees they now have to conduct an investigation on the integrity in government. MP Richardson said if the Kingdom will go ahead with its investigation then he wants to know what sense it makes for the Government of St. Maarten to establish more committees and also have Transparency International conduct the same investigation. He further asked the Prime Minister to tell the people of St. Maarten how much these investigations will cost them in the end. MP Richardson asked the Prime Minister if she is ready or who is ready to take the blame for the break down in trust within government as is outlined by the Hague. "The Hague said St. Maarten tarnished the image of the Kingdom and they also embarrassed them therefore I want to know who will take the blame for this because someone in the USA is taking the blame for the Obama Care debacle." MP Richardson further asked if the Kingdom will drop the integrity investigation now that St. Maarten has agreed to give them all they wanted, which is to land the fiber optic cable on St. Maarten, removal of TOT on goods sold to the residents of Saba and Statia, and the monies that were due to them from the Central Bank.
MPs have Big Stones --- Kingdom has no Right to Order Investigation on St. Maarten – MP Roy Marlin.
Member of Parliament Roy Marlin in his statements during the first round said that the Members of Parliament that posed questions about the integrity investigation has "big stones" for asking the questions they asked. MP Marlin who is a representative of the Democratic Party faction said several of the MPs have skeletons in their closets yet they are the ones that are asking questions. He said that during the investigations he is hoping that something on the removal of the sand from the harbor will surface as well as the removal of the asphalt from the airport. He also suggested that the reports from the integrity investigations should be presented to Parliament as suggested by the leader of the National Alliance.
Prime Minister Sarah Wescot Williams in her response to the Members of Parliament who posed questions to her about the integrity committee said that she does not know who really to blame due to the questions that were posed to her. She said she felt that she gave the Members of Parliament sufficient information when she requested to meet with Parliament to update them on the developments regarding the Royal decree and the Kingdom Council of Ministers. "Its either I did not give enough information or the information that I gave was not properly understood."
As for Transparency International, the Prime Minister admitted that the US Consul based in Curacao made the suggestion in March 20th, 2013 when the Wescot Williams 2 cabinet was in office. She said that three days after receiving that email she contacted Transparency International. Transparency International will be paid just over Euros 200,000. USONA she said will pay Euros 171,000 while the Government of St. Maarten will pay Euros 40,000. The Prime Minister further explained that she even submitted the draft decree on the agreement government has with Transparency International. Wescot Williams also indicated to Parliament that she neither the Government of St. Maarten has a problem with or is against the investigation on integrity. She said if they were they would not have formed the committee consisting of the six persons and they would not have engaged Transparency International. However, the Government of St. Maarten does have a problem with the measures used by the Kingdom when they invoked Article 43 of the charter to issue the Royal Decree.
She further explained that government allocated Naf. 300,000.00 for the committee to work with until they provide a budget to government. This committee she said has to find its own tools and materials to conduct the investigation. She made clear that she included in the Ministerial decree that the members of the committee could work with the Kingdom to conduct the investigation on integrity.
Wescot Williams also admitted to Parliament that the national ordinance that was sent to the Governor for signing was not signed.
Laveist asks for information on Consular Services Provided by Guyanese Consuls --- Come clean or we will call a separate meeting on this agenda point.
Besides committees that were formed to conduct the integrity investigation, Member of Parliament Louie Laveist asked the Prime Minister to provide Parliament with information she has on the consular services that are provided by the Guyanese Consuls and or diplomats that visit St. Maarten. MP Laveist said if the Prime Minister does not provide them with the answers they need on this topic then they would have to call a separate meeting to further discuss the operations that are conducted by these visiting consuls and or diplomats. The MP made clear that he was not looking for any names but he wants to know exactly what the Prime Minister knows about the activities of the Guyanese consuls and or diplomats.
"I do not have a Dog in this Fight, I asked a legitimate question and I need the answers," MP Laveist.
When the public meeting of Parliament resumed on Monday afternoon, Prime Minister Sarah Wescot Williams lashed out at MP Louie Laviest who asked her about the procedures foreign countries have to follow in order for them to conduct consular services on St. Maarten. Wescot Williams said she felt that somebody in the house of Parliament wanted to destroy the Acting head of the Bureau of Foreign Affairs. She further stated that she wants to know if the MPs or anyone else understands the law, especially that of the Vienna Convention, which protects foreign diplomats. "Does anyone in here expect me to go out there and check to see how and what kind of services these consuls are giving to the Guyanese community?" Wescot Williams said in the case of the Guyana General Consul, the Government of Guyana sent a request to the Government of St. Maarten (Bureau of Foreign Affairs) requesting that St. Maarten allow the General Consul that is responsible for the region to enter St. Maarten where he could also provide consular services. Member of Parliament Louie Laviest did not take the statements made by the Prime Minister lightly especially her tone when responding to his questions. He said he certainly does not have a dog in the foreign relations fight. "As a Member of Parliament I have a duty and an obligation to the people of this country and all I am asking you is to explain the people of St. Maarten especially foreigners the procedures they have to follow when coming to St. Maarten to conduct business. People (Guyanese nationals) living in the Cole Bay area contacted me and told me they gave their passports and paid monies to certain people and it has been over a year now and they have not received their travel documents or monies back." Leader of the National Alliance William Marlin in his statements said that he heard that the former head of the Bureau of Foreign Affairs was in contact with Guyana which led to the current acting head granting the person entry to St. Maarten. Marlin said that what he understood is the former head of the Bureau of Foreign Affairs started rolling the ball in the wrong direction. He said the questions that were posed by his colleague had nothing to do with wanting to throw anyone under the bus. Marlin said if proper procedures were not followed then government should be big enough to admit such and also say that those mistakes would have been corrected. In responding to the reactions by the MPs, Prime Minister Wescot Williams said that the Government of Guyana sent a request to the Netherlands (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) asking that they accredit Guyana General Consul of Barbados Michael Brotherson the rights to become the Consul on St. Maarten. The Prime Minister said that pending that request St. Maarten granted the request submitted to St. Maarten by the Government of Guyana which is to allow the General Consul entry and to allow him to provide consular services. She said that Brotherson is responsible for the region and the Government of Guyana wants to add St. Maarten to his jurisdiction. Wescot Williams said if persons contacted the MPs with information regarding their Guyanese passports that they gave to Guyanese diplomats for renewal then the MPs should contact the Government of Guyana and not St. Maarten. "The people to contact with the information you have is the Government of Guyana and if you are not satisfied with the information they provided via a press release on this matter then you can contact them also for further information. The Government of St. Maarten is not responsible for the handling of Guyanese passports." Wescot Williams also informed Parliament that she was not at all upset when she answered the questions posed to her but took note of the spin they placed on the matter when they said they knew that the former head (a Dutch National from the Netherlands, started rolling the ball in the wrong direction).
The public meeting of Parliament on this topic will continue at 4pm on Monday.