Philipsburg: ---- The island council meeting which was called by the National Alliance faction had to be postponed to next week for the lack of quorum. All five members of the National Alliance Faction showed up for the meeting which was to deal with the building permits policy and the economical situation of the island.
The Leader of the Democratic Party Sarah Wescot Williams had already indicated to the chairman of the island council that the Democratic Party faction was not going to attend that meeting claiming that at least two of the commissioners would have been off island. In closing the meeting Lt. Governor and Chairman of the Island Council Franklyn Richards said based on the rules of order the meeting had to be postponed for the lack of quorum however the meeting can be called again within the next eight days. Richards already hinted that the meeting will be called on Wednesday next week.
Leader of the National Alliance William Marlin in a statement to the press shortly after said the Democratic Party is creating nothing more but a smoke screen which is to cover up for their internal problems. He said the National Alliance requested this meeting on Thursday last week which gave the Governor one full week to schedule the meeting, while he had to give the Island Council members four days notification.
Marlin said the accusations by the Democratic Party against the governor saying he is in some sort of conspiracy with the National Alliance to schedule the meeting which would be convenient to the National Alliance is absolutely not true. He said this had nothing to do with his travelling schedule, instead the National Alliance requested the meeting in the week National Alliance island councilmen and Senators Franz Richardson and Marlin were to be on the island.
The two agenda points he said are government's policy on the issuance of building permits and the economic situation of the island.
Marlin further explained the commissioner of Public Works Theo Heyliger was in the hall prior to the convening of the meeting but he Heyliger did not sign in for the meeting which he believes is in keeping with the letter of the leader of the Democratic Party.
The NA leader said if the government was serious they would have allowed the meeting to open yesterday since they have the first rounds in which they would have presented their case and ask their questions.
He said the DP faction could have then joined the meeting after and by then they would have had enough time to prepare the answers to the questions that were asked. This way government would have had enough time to prepare their answers while the two commissioners who are off island could have joined the meetings when they return.
Marlin said it is evident that the island government has internal problems and they don't know how to deal with the issues at hand.
He said the Democratic Party has problems with the commissioner of economic affairs whom he said is continuing to pressure government to implement certain policies.
Marlin said during the last island council meeting their was an agenda point to amend the business license ordinance which the commissioner in charge wants on the floor of the island council. He said when this point was finally on the agenda point the meeting was abruptly adjourned.
Marlin explained that while the chairman claimed the meeting was adjourned to give members of the island council the opportunity to go to a funeral the fact of the matter that was not the case. He said later the members of the island council received a letter telling them that them that the executive council had decided to withdraw that agenda point.
He said this is clear indication that the DP are having internal problems and if they are not willing to talk about those problems then that is their right but they should not twist matters which would make it appear as if it's the Lt. Governor and the National Alliance that are playing games.
Marlin made clear he does not schedule island council meetings instead he request meetings. He said now that the Lt. Governor has decided to reconvene this meeting next week while two members of the National Alliance would be in parliament then he would deal with the issue by withdrawing the request.
Marlin said with these developments it is a clear sign of the lack of good governance on the part of the Democratic Party who are misusing their powers. He said the DP feels because they are in government with the majority of seats but that he says that still has to be clarified since the DP has five seats and the support of Independent member Louis Laveist who is sometimes are there and other times he is missing in action.