San Juan/ Philipsburg: ----Leader of the National Alliance William Marlin has sent a letter to the chairman of the Island Council Franklyn Richards yesterday afternoon informing him that the five members of the National Alliance along with the support of Independent Island Council member Louie Laveist have formed the next government. The letter sent to Richards reads as follows;--
Honorable Lt. Governor,
The undersigned, William V. Marlin, Frans Richardson, Hyacinth Richardson, Patrick Illidge and Rodolphe Samuel, all members of the island council of Sint Maarten and of the National Alliance, and Louie A. Laveist, independent member of the island council of Sint Maarten, hereby inform you that they have reached agreement on the formation of a new Executive Council, which enjoys the support of a majority of the membership of the island council of Sint Maarten.
In view of the aforementioned, the undersigned hereby request an urgent meeting of the island council of Sint Maarten to commence the process of putting the new Executive Council in office.
Marlin in his letter also asked that Richards inform him when the date on which the next Island Council meeting would be called.
As was reported on this website last week we stated that it looks more likely that the NA was going to form the next government and they would be seeking an IC meeting where a motion of non-confidence will be presented against the four DP Commissioners who chose to submit a postdated resignation for June 8.
Despite taking a few days to take place, the NA did what most people on the island were expecting them to do. Leader of the Democratic Party Sarah Wescot Williams had said on more than one occasion that she had heard Laveist had sent a letter of support to the NA and she felt that was why Marlin was making extra-ordinary demands from the DP before negotiations could begin.
On the other hand, Marlin said he was not willing to discuss with government to form a new government. He also made clear that his party had no intentions to prop up a failing government. Marlin was given credit by more than one person for the stance he took. One of those persons who openly credited Marlin is former State Secretary for Justice Johan Janchi Leonard.
SMN News also reported last week that Marlin were between a rock and a hard place since none of his members were willing to give up their seat to allow the formation of a National or Broad base government. According to our source, the NA council members strongly believed that other members of the Democratic Party are going to be picked up since there are ongoing investigations taking place against more than one of DP Commissioners.
Presently the SOAB is conducting an investigation at the ROB (Public Works Department) for alleged wrong doings with the issuance of building permits. Already the SOAB investigated the licenses department on the issuances of bus and taxi licenses. So far, the out come of that investigation is not known.
