Philipsburg: --- The Democratic Party was dealt another low blow today (Thursday) when independent island council member Louie Laviest withdrew his support from the party for the second time in three months.
Laveist resigned from the Democratic Party on November 9th 2008 and on that same day he indicated via letter to the chairman of the Island council Franklyn Richards that he was no longer supporting the Democratic Party. However, day's later party leader Sarah Wescot Williams managed to get Laveist to reinstate his confidence in the party which allowed them to remain in government.
All of this transpired after Laveist was released from pre-trail detention where he spent nine days. He was later charged with forgery, bribery and fraud.
On April 28th the court of First Instance handed down its verdict in the criminal case against the embattled councilman. He was convicted on all counts and sentenced to 18 months behind bars, nine of which are suspended. Laviest was ordered to pay Naf. 5000 fine. He was also banned from holding public office for the next five years while on a three year probation.
Upon hearing the verdict Laveist immediately filed an appeal with the appeals court of the Netherland Antilles and Aruba.
On Tuesday, one week after the verdict was given the embattled island councilman resigned from the executive council but held on to his island council seat. In a press conference on Tuesday Laveist said he was in negotiations with the leader of the Democratic Party and that he was still in support of the party.
However, it is obvious that Laveist was not getting any support from members of the DP since his arrest in October last year. Party leader Wescot Williams had visited Laveist while in prison and asked him to resign from both executive and island council which he refused to do at the time saying justice must take its course. As promised back then he said whenever there was a verdict and it was not in his favor he was going to resign which is what he did earlier this week.
It was understood that Laviest met with Westcot Williams on Thursday afternoon and she asked him to return his island council seat to the Democratic Party so that they can remain in government but Laveist made it clear that he had no intentions to do that. The negotiations it is understood were to continue. However, this morning (Thursday) Laveist submitted a letter to the Government Administration Building indicating that he has once again withdrawn his support from the party.
Shortly after the councilman issued a press release which reads. "
SUPPORT WITHDRAWAL FOR THE CURRENT DEMOCRATIC PARTY LED GOVERNMENT.
"The current ongoing developments regarding my person, and our quest as an Island Territory to obtain country status within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, has prompted my decision to place Country above self.
In doing so, as an Independent member of the Island Council of St. Maarten, I have recently tendered my resignation as member of the current executive council of the Island Territory of St. Maarten.
With respect to the people of St. Maarten, who have placed their confidence in me as their representative, and in order that I not be viewed or considered as an obstacle to the ongoing constitutional and political process. I have withdrawn my support from the current Democratic Party led Government. I hereby place my support and public endorsement for a NATIONAL GOVERNMENT, to be represented by both the Democratic Party and the National Alliance. This decision clears any and all impressions, that I could be obstructing the process of good governance, and makes way for the formation of a new and stable government, having a comfortable majority. This National Government will represent the majority of the voters of the Island Territory of St. Maarten." The release concludes.
SMN News understands that the councilman became extremely angry when he read the open letter former Senator Marcel Gumbs that was published in the Daily Herald today.
Gumbsis the vice president of the Democratic Party and is supposedly the adviser to the party leader Sarah Wescot Williams. Sources close to the embattled councilman said Gumbs never once called Laveist since his arrest in October and to date he has never offered any support to him yet Gumbs found it fit to call himself a "friend of Laveist."
The source said it seems as if the Democratic Party's intention is to strip Laveist of all he has because he already gave them his "shirt" (the commissioner seat) and now they are looking for his pants and maybe shorts(Island Council seat). This according to the supporter of Louie Laveist is selfishness since the Democratic Party is yet to inquire from Laveist how he would survive as a St. Maartener. The source said Laveist already spent thousands of dollars on legal fees and his legal problems are far from over.
Laveist has so far declined to make a public statement while leader of government Sarah Wescot Williams and members of the National Alliance is yet to make a public statement.
DP Making Several Offers to Laveist.
SMN News understands that several persons who are linked to the Democratic Party has gotten in contact with the Island councilman offering him lots of monies and other goodies so that he can re-consider his withdrawal from the party. Sources close to the councilman said while some members of the party has refrained from contacting him and are looking into other political strategies others are out there trying to make a deal with Laveist.