Cole Bay: --- Convicted commissioner Louie Laveist plans to resign early next week from the executive council now that there is a verdict in his case which proved him guilty of all five charges prosecutors laid against him earlier this year. Those charges included fraud, forgery, bribery and the hiring of an illegal. Laveist was convicted to 18 months imprisonment, nine of which are conditional; less time spent behind bars during his pre-trial detention. Laveist must pay a fine of Naf.5,000 or spend 55 days behind bars, with three years probation. The judge also banned Laviest from holding any position in the civil core or any public office even if elected or appointed.
The embattled commissioner received the verdict on Tuesday which left him stunned. It is said the commissioner is expected to meet with the island leader of government sometime over the carnival holidays but no date, time or place has been set for the meeting. Sources said Leader of Government Sarah Wescot Williams sent a text message to Laveist on Tuesday telling him she was sorry the verdict did not turn out the way he expected it to be. Wescot Williams also stated in the text that she would be meeting with Laveist over the holidays. So far no meeting has taken place but Laveist after discussing with his family has decided to resign early next week and focus on how to deal with his appeal. It is said the embattled commissioner would not give the DP party or the National Alliance the opportunity to file another motion of non confidence against him.
Sources close to Laveist told SMN News that the commissioner has no intention to work around the same crew and that now there is a guilty verdict he would do the honorable thing which is to resign from the executive council. However, the island councilman would not be giving up his seat in the island council.
The source said Laveist and his inner family intends to seek other options within the legal sphere to fight the appeal "It is clear the judge found away to get Laveist out of the Island Council since the ERNA does not have the same provisions as the justice system." The source said. Furthermore, the judge in his ruling has left Laveist jobless for the next five years even though he knows the council man has one child to maintain.
"Right now I believe everyone in government should be holding their heads because it seems as if the Dutch would be using the justice system to get rid of locals. The best thing politicians on St. Maarten can do now is to declare Independence and get out of the Dutch judicial system."
The court found proven that Laveist forged the minutes of the Culture Club Foundation to defraud AMFO of Naf. 22,750. It also found proven that Laveist and his executive assistant Roberto Richardson accepted a bribe from BEMAL NV in the form of two plane tickets to Canada and $10, 000 as he had intended to use his influence as a commissioner to grant the company the contract to furnish the new government administration building.
Also found proven is Laviest accepted $6,000 from Bargains Unlimited to his foundation Culture Club, the judge found that Laveist again used his influence as the commissioner of labor who was responsible for the granting of working permits used his influence to grant the businessman a working permit while there was a moratorium in place. Laviest was also found guilty as an accomplice for a hiring Samuel Boney (Sammy) the barber to work illegally in a barber shop belonging to his sister.
Laveist Verdict is Cause to Reflect.
In a man in the street interview with SMN News several persons in the community is now expressing shock at the verdict handed down against Louie Laveist saying that the judge did not weigh the facts of the case. Some said the case of Louie Laveist was discussed among several judges and it seems as if the verdict handed down was that of an order given from the very top.
One resident who preferred to speak off record said he believed the Dutch wants to send a clear message to the Antilles. They made sure they found a away not to allow a sitting Island Council member go to jail with his seat and come out back with it. "What happened on Curacao with the case of Anthony Goddett would cannot happen again because Goddette went to prison with his Island Council seat and came out with that seat and dictated politics in Curacao." The judges made sure they did not allow that to happen on St. Maarten since Laveist has been dictating politics these last months.
While many are saying that the National Alliance is keen on getting into power or wanting to form coalition or national government with the Democratic Party they have lost sight on the real issue at hand. "All politicians on St. Maarten should come out boldly on Monday morning and declare Independence because they way things are going all politicians are going to be locked up". This is the only way for the Dutch to say no to separate status and if they have to manufacture evidence against anyone they would. Said the angry St. Maarten resident.
So far the leader of government has not made any public statements as to how she would handle the situation regarding Laveist and the executive council.