PHILIPSBURG:----- It is with total astonishment that I read in the Daily Herald of Friday, November 13, 2015 that the honorable members of parliament, Mr. Franklin Meyers, Mrs. Leona Marlin-Romeo and Mr. Cornelius de Weever withdrew from all committees locally and at Parlatino. The OSPP has therefore forwarded a letter to the president of parliament, Mrs. Sarah Wescott-Williams posing various questions and making some suggestions to better improve the functioning of parliament. The public would like to know which permanent committees exist at this moment and what are their functions? Who are the chairpersons of those committees? How often do these committees have to meet and are their reports available from these meetings to the public? If the media report is correct does this mean that the honorable members mentioned before, namely Mr. Franklin Meyers, Mrs. Leona Marlin-Romeo and Mr. Cornelius de Weever will only be attending meetings of the Central Committee and Public meetings? Is the public to understand that while members of parliament can select the committees they want to serve on; it is their duty and responsibility to be active in one or more of those committees? Failure to serve on none of the committees is an indication that those members are not interested or capable in making a meaningful contribution to the further development of this young nation and should not receive their full salary at the end of the month. They should do the honorable thing and resign from the parliament of St. Maarten since they have lost all interest in carrying out their duties.
We have also asked the chairperson of parliament if she has any type of legal means to submit a proposal calling for a reduction of the salary of those members of parliament who refuse to participate in those committees. Or are we to assume that the purpose of these committees are meaningless and therefore should be removed from the rules of order of parliament article #18 sub 1 and 3.
The OSPP is of the opinion that all members of parliament must be willing to participate in all discussions to seek ways in improving the quality of life of our people, be it in our economy, education, justice or health just to name a few areas.
However, it is unacceptable that some members of parliament are willing to work 40% but collect 100% of their salaries. It is obvious why many of our people, especially our youth are adopting crime as a means of support as many of our members of parliament are leading by example, defrauding the system by not reporting to work but collecting 100% of their salaries at the end of every month. These members who are not reporting to work are therefore committing white collar crimes and should feel it in their pockets now and later at the polls.
It is therefore of utmost importance that our members of parliament be held totally accountable for their actions in parliament and we suggest that quarterly reports be made available to the general public as oppose to the annual reports indicating their attendance records. In this way the people would know who are working on their behalf and how they are doing it.
Secondly, we are also proposing that parliament adopts a motion calling for a salary reduction on a monthly basis of those members who do not report to work. This salary reduction should be based on the percentage of meetings a member of parliament missed for the month. It is time that we put some order to the functioning of parliament and they should start working for the people.
Letter sent to the Chairlady of Parliament by OSPP Leader Lenny Priest
November 14, 2015
Mrs. Sarah Wescott-Williams
President of Parliament
Parliament of St. Maarten
Wilhelmina Street #
Philipsburg, St. Maarten
Attention: Mrs. Sarah Wescott-Williams
President of Parliament
Dear Mrs. Wescott-Williams,
It is with total astonishment that I read in the Daily Herald of Friday, November 13, 2015 that the honorable members of parliament, Mr. Franklin Meyers, Mrs. Leona Marlin-Romeo and Mr. Cornelius de Weever withdrew from all committees locally and at Parlatino. The public would like to know which permanent committees exist at this moment and what are their functions? Who are the chairpersons of those committees? How often do these committees have to meet and are their reports available from these meetings to the public? If the media report is correct does this mean that the honorable members mentioned before will only be attending meetings of the Central Committee and Public meetings? Is the public to understand that while members of parliament can select the committees they want to serve on; it is their duty and responsibility to be active in one or more of those committees? Failure to serve on none of those committees is an indication that those members are not interested in making a meaningful contribution to the further development of this young nation.
As chairperson of parliament do you have any type of legal means to submit a proposal calling for a reduction of the salary of those members of parliament who refuse to participate in those committees? Or are we to assume that the purpose of these committees are meaningless and therefore should be removed from the rules of order of parliament , article #18 sub 1 and 3.
The OSPP is of the opinion that all members of parliament must be willing to participate in all discussions to seek ways in improving the quality of life of our people be it in our economy, education, security or health just to name a few areas.
However, it is unacceptable that some members of parliament are willing to work 40% but collect 100% of their salaries. It is obvious why many of our people, especially our youth are adopting crime as a means of support as many of our members of parliament are leading by example, defrauding the system by not reporting to work but collecting 100% of their salaries at the end of every month. These members who are not reporting to work are therefore committing white collar crimes and should feel it in their pockets.
It is therefore of utmost importance that our members of parliament be held totally accountable for their actions in parliament and we suggest that quarterly reports be made available to the general public as oppose to the annual reports indicating their attendance records. In this way the people know who are working on their behalf and how they are doing it.
Secondly, we are also proposing that parliament adopts a motion calling for a salary reduction on a monthly basis of those members who do not report to work. This salary reduction should be based on the percentage of meetings a member of parliament missed for the month. It is time that we put some order to the functioning of parliament.
Yours truly,
One St. Maarten People Party
Lenny F. Priest
Leader of the OSPP
