Philipsburg: --- Opposition leader of the island council Sarah Wescot Williams at a lengthy press conference on Monday told reporters that it is now 21 days since the National Alliance, Theo Heyliger and Laviest political agreement has been signed and still there is no governing accord.
The former leader of government said she had anticipated seeing the governing program of the new executive council published by Monday since the signatories to the NA/ Heyliger agreement said it would have been ready in 21 days time.
In related matters Wescot Williams said she wants to know if the new executive council would bring on board the draft integrity policy on commissioners which was submitted by the island Lt. Governor in the year 2002. She said this document already passed through the central committee and the only thing that is left to be done is to bring it to the floor of the island council. The opposition leader said this can be done immediately since the new leader of government had raised his concerns on the integrity policy on a number of occasions. “I believe this can come to the floor of the island council before the recess”.
Wescot Williams said that Marlin had said that the Dutch were concerned about the lack of integrity in government on St. Maarten. She made reference to statements made by Minister of Constitutional Affairs Roland Duncan who said the current government would do the things the former government neglected to do, such as the gaming control board, an ombudsman, and the execution of law of cooperate governance.
Wescot Williams said the former government had begun working on a plan regarding integrity in government both for commissioners and civil servant. Civil servants she said had to undergo some training for so –call back uppers for every department and sectors.
She part of the plan was the awareness campaign and two codes of conduct.
One of the codes of conduct she said were for politicians especially members of the executive council and the other for civil servants. Wescot Williams said her government was following a program but there is nothing wrong with pulling out the one of the Lt. Governor and the other draft for civil servants. She said she already warned prior to leaving office that if the new executive council does not plan to bring out these policies then she would make sure it happens as an opposition leader, in an effort to assist the current leader of Government William Marlin.
Good Governance
With regards to cooperate governance the former leader of government said the Democratic Party led government for years had been adjusting the articles of incorporation of government owned companies in compliance with the resolution of financial supervision.
The documents she said was presented to the State Secretary of Kingdom Relations Ank Bijleveldt to which the State Secretary had responded on May 20th with four remarks. Those remarks was highlighted were to be adjusted. Wescot Williams said after the adjustments were made which she described as technical then the ordinance on cooperate governance and policies were going to receive the stamp of approval required for the resolution on financial supervision based on article 32.
Regarding the Gaming Control Board the Wescot Williams said in 2006 the DP executive council had submitted a request for financing which was rejected by the Minister of Justice (Riberio). She said the executive council had objected to the rejection and when the current Minister of Justice David Dick took office the matter was again tabled.
Minister of Justice David Dick had asked some questions to which answers were submitted in August 2005 as well as a request which was sent to USONA for financing.
Wescot Williams in 2007 the executive council was notified that the notary was to make the statues for the Gaming Control Board. However it was later learnt that the Minister only gave the notary his request in April last year. Wescot Williams said she cannot say what caused the delay which is over one year.
Ombudsman
Wescot Williams also gave an outline on the setbacks regarding the installation of an ombudsman on St. Maarten. She said putting an ombudsman in place would call for an office space as well as four to five persons to work in said office. She said this matter was vetted on December 15 2008, since the law for the ombudsman for country St. Martin was made and submitted to the Netherlands in April 2009.
Wescot Williams said several other proposals were made with respect to the ombudsman. One of the questions pertaining to the function of the ombudsman was to see if that person or office can act on the infringements committed by government owned companies and other agencies. While the former government was also considering if reports could have been made at the office of the ombudsman when there are integrity infringements. Wescot Williams said she is curious to what would be the reaction of the new executive council pertaining to these two proposals which is already there.
Labour Policy Concerns
Former Labour commissioner Sarah Wescot Williams said she already expressed her concerns when she learnt that the current executive council has decided to shelf the policy. She said the present government had said their intention is not to change the policy of the previous government but instead make them work better for the people while complementing them with their own initiatives and improvements.
She went on to read quotes such as “working feverishly to continue the work of the previous executive council and employ whatever possible from the previous administration in its own criteria of governing.”
The former labour commissioner said the executive council has decided to shelf the revised policy and revert to the old one of 2003. She said she already voiced her concerns about the actions of government since they did not allow themselves to become familiar with what was taking place in government. Wescot Williams said if the media reports are true regarding statements made by the current labour commissioner. She said she is also concerned about the statements made on one of the talk shows which suggested that government is committed to carry out what their campaign financiers feel is important.
She agreed that certain issues in the policy had to be worked out and adjusted. She said the only reason the changes were not made is that the tripartite committee had to sanction the changes that were made. Those changes included the age limits, housing, moratorium, and other issues.
Wescot Williams further explained that the need to revise the old policy arose in 2006 and a first report was submitted in January 2008 while the policy itself was approved by the governor general in October 2008. The revised policy was implemented on January 12 and was in its trail phase. It was scheduled to be discussed in August.