Marigot:--- Members of the support committee for Robert Romney plans to take radical actions against the Rector and his delegation that are expected to visit St. Maarten on June 30th. The committee held a public meeting on Thursday night to inform members of the public that so far the Collectivity neither the committee has not received any response from the Rectorat regarding Romney's status and possible removal from his office.Aline Choisy said Robert Romney was told via telephone that he remains the Rectorat representative until September but nothing was given to him in writing. She said based on information that is circulating, someone from St. Martin and Martinique is among the 14 candidates that postulated for the position. Choisy also confirmed that Robert Romney also submitted his candidacy for the position he is currently holding.
Choisy also expressed her disgust against the candidate from St. Martin that is trying to take away the job from another qualified St. Martiner. She however, warned that would not happen because those organizing the plan of action would not sit back for that to happen. Another observation Choisy made was that she invited all the media houses on St. Martin, especially those on the French side and it is amazing to see only the English media representatives at the meeting.
Choisy said the Rector already notified the President of the Collectivity and the Prefecture that he would not be able to meet with both them on his visit. She said the Rector and his delegation are planning to hold a meeting in French Quarter and if the Rector does meet with the 23 member Territorial Council then action should be taken to prevent him from visiting French Quarter College. While territorial councilor Louis Mussington said he believes that the people of St. Martin should not wait that long to take action. "We need to block Marigot and do whatever is necessary to get the attention of the Rectorat. "This is not about Robert Romney this is about St. Martin and its education system that has been neglected over the years. Our children are not able to perform. Many of them are not able to write their baccalaureat because of the system. Romney is the only local St. Martiner who has the requirements to fill this State position. He also knows St. Martin's predicament in education and he is the one that could create the best plan for St. Martin and its students." Mussington said.
The territorial councilor said recently he got hold of the decree given to Romney and he realized that the degree did not bear the signatures of the delegation which made it null and void. "Those people took us for a joke and have taken us for a ride. St. Barths already got a decree with the necessary signatures and I cannot see why they did not do the same for Romney." Mussington said the decree that Romney has does not give him any power and for this reason the Rectorat did not provide the financial means to Romney neither did they supply the materials and staff for him to function.
Mussington said from the very inception the Rectorat did not want to appoint Romney to the position. He said he determined that from a phone call he received from the secretary to the Rector prior to Romney's appointment.
Attending the meeting which was held at the Chamber of Commerce there was first vice president Daniel Gibbs, Territorial Councilor Alain Richardson, members of the President cabinet and territorial councilor Louis Jeffry who is part of the committee and president of the MOCSAM. Among those that showed up to support Romney were most of his sisters and brothers that are residing on St. Martin.
Aline Choisy expressed her disappointment with the attendants of Thursday night meeting saying that the people of St. Martin is taking everything for granted. She said it is only when people backs are against the wall they act and for me that is too late. " I am a known fighter and will to continue to fight this matter even if I am the only one left standing on the road" Choisy said. In the meantime, Louis Jeffry said fighting the Rectorat like fighting with a gorilla. He said this is not the time to give up and the people should come out and even give them ideas on how to tackle the matter.