Philipsburg: --- Island Councilman and executive council member Louis Laveist will not resigned even though Lt. Governor Lt. Governor Franklyn Richards made a public call on the commissioner to do what he considered to be the honorable thing.Sources close to the commissioner said that money remains a key issue for Laveist who once held the highest positions in government. According to the source the commissioner who is also a civil servant never received an increase during his years as a civil servant. Laveist is a scale three civil servant who makes less than Naf. 3000. monthly.
The non active commissioner was once senator, island and executive council member who has a salary of over Naf. 10,000 monthly with other benefits, should he resign from the executive council the commissioner would not be able to meet his monthly bills including the school fees for his only child at Learning Unlimited.
Lt. Governor Franklyn Richards in a press release recapped the events surrounding Laveist and the Democratic Party after Laveist was released from pre-trial detention.
Laveist in a letter to Richards had said he would no longer support the DP and that he is now an Independent member of the Island Council. One week after the leader of the DP sent a letter to Richards signed by Laveist giving his support to the present led government.
So far the commissioner who went silent on many matters has not been charged with any wrong doing even though he spent nine days in pre-trial detention. He is accused of forgery. SMN News understands that the Prosecutor handling Laveist case Martin Hemaalar is busy preparing the summons. It is understood that Laveist may have to appear in courts as early as February.
