Philipsburg:--- Senator and chairman of the Central Committee George Pantophlet in reaction to the constant meetings called by the Democratic Parry faction said the Democratic Party has resorted to calling meetings every week as they have promised is not to prove how concerned they are about the business of the people but an attempt to frustrate the National Alliance led government.
Pantophlet reoffered to an editorial in one of the local newspapers the editor was hoping that they would see maturity at this time and cooperation in the interest of the people but alas this will not be the case.
He said in critical times such as these instead the members of the DP using their experience to inform the people they have decided to play politics.
He asked why should he as chairman, of the central committee call island council members to schedule meetings? Aren’t they the ones who said they would be calling meetings every week? Are they not aware that if a meeting was requested on Monday September 7, 2009 that it has to be convened within 7 days? Are they not aware of the upcoming summits on Curacao September 16 and 17? Are they not aware that the constitutional process of which both parties agreed to work on in the interest of the people is in high gear? Yes they are, but as was stated by a member of the minority government, they will be calling meetings every week.
On the matter of the agenda point for Monday’s island council meeting the financial economic situation of St. Maarten, there should have two presentations. One by the former Democratic Party government from 1998 until June 7, 2009 and one from the National Alliance led government from June 8 until September 12, 2009. Pantophlet said need not go into the issues of the unrealistic budgets that were presented over the years. The latest information is already known to the media is that the debt at this time is 50 million guilders and climbing. He said he is sure this did not occur in the last 100 days. With regards to the Central committee meeting, the following agenda points: the Codes of Conduct for civil servants and political functionaries, the establishment of the Ombudsman, the New electoral Law, Registration and Financing of Political Parties and appointment of members to the Monument Council what was the former Democratic Party government waiting on to deal with these issues? He concluded by saying that his government knows what the priorities are and that is administrating the business of the people in a responsible manner.
