Philipsburg:--- Island Councilman and senator George Pantophlet said the oppostion in the island council namely the Democratic Party is exemplary in their commitment to frustrate the process of constitutional change and prevent the people of St. Maarten from attaining its status change under the National Alliance led government.
Pantophlet said during Thursday’s Island Council meeting the opposition choose to walk out of the meeting instead of remaining in the legislative hall to represent the people who elected them.
The island councilman and senator called the situation unfortunate because the process of constitutional change is not a party issue but the mandate from the people of St. Maarten which was given to elected officials when they voted on June 23, 2000 almost 10 years ago to leave the constellation of the Netherlands Antilles but remain within the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
Why did the members of the minority government walk out? It was not because they had to wait on several adjournments which are nothing new because the National Alliance have had to endure many adjournments which sometimes kept them into the late hours of the night.
He said the only reason the DP walked out is because they know the National Alliance/Heyliger and Laveist government knew they were needed to give a quorom also knowing that one of the requirements in the agreement signed with the Netherlands was that of good corporate governance a process which they started but could not complete.
The councilman said with this kind of behavior they have proven that when it comes to good governance they are still lagging behind. He asked if the people remember the proposal of the Ombudsman brought forward by former Island council member Drs. Gracita Arrindell? What was the D.P.’s response.It was left hanging for almost four years. And how can anyone forget Rules of Order which has been waiting for almost five years? And suddenly the minority government realizes that it exists. He said they need not remind the former D.P. government of the many times when it came especially to constitutional matters that the National Alliance as representatives of the people of St. Maarten were the ones who signed in to ensure that there was a quorum for the meetings to proceed. The minutes of these meetings are there as proof. Now because of their lack of good governance another week will be wasted. Bravo D.P. good job. Country above self.