PHILIPSBURG:--- Leader of the National Alliance, island council member and senator William Marlin has confirmed that the island council meeting that was called by the National Alliance faction last week will take place today. The two agenda points he said are government's policy on the issuance of building permits and the economic situation of the island.
The meeting which had to be postponed due to the lack of quorum since the members of the Democratic Party did not show up was rescheduled by the Chairman of the island council Franklyn Richards.
Marlin had said last week that his faction was contemplating withdrawing the meeting since had to be off island attending to parliamentary meetings. During a telephone interview yesterday from Curacao he said the meeting would go on but could not confirm if all members of his faction would be present to make their case.
Last week Marlin lambasted the leader of the Democratic Party for creating a smoke screen to hide the internal problems of her party while failing to carry out the duties of the people. He said the island leader had falsely accused the chairman of the island council whom she said was in cahoots with the National Alliance to call meetings when the DP faction is not on island.
Last week when the island council meeting was called commissioner of public works Theo Heyliger was in the AC Wathey Legislative hall but refused to sign in to form a quorum. One of the agenda points of that meeting falls directly under the commissioner in question. Something Marlin rose during his press statement shortly after the meeting was postponed.
Marlin had said it is evident that the island government has internal problems and they don't know how to deal with the issues at hand.
He said the Democratic Party has problems with the commissioner of economic affairs whom he said is continuing to pressure government to implement certain policies.
Marlin said during the last island council meeting there was an agenda point to amend the business license ordinance which the commissioner in charge wants on the floor of the island council. He said when this point was finally on the agenda point the meeting was abruptly adjourned.
Marlin explained that while the chairman claimed the meeting was adjourned to give members of the island council the opportunity to go to a funeral the fact of the matter that was not the case. He said later the members of the island council received a letter telling them that them that the executive council had decided to withdraw that agenda point.
He said this is clear indication that the DP are having internal problems and if they are not willing to talk about those problems then that is their right but they should not twist matters which would make it appear as if it's the Lt. Governor and the National Alliance that are playing games.
