Marigot: --- Leader of the Union pour le Progres Louis Constant Fleming in an exclusive interview admitted that he should have sanctioned members of the UPP for their misconduct in the past but has failed to lead his party in the correct fashion. Fleming was also reacting to statements made by territorial councilor Marthe Ogoundele Tessi and first vice president Daniel Gibbs whom he said he intended to ask to resign from the UPP.Fleming said the only reason he did not take actions before is because his party does not have a written policy on code of conduct. Fleming explained that the president and secretary of the UPP are working on those rules and it should be voted upon in their next meeting.
At that point Fleming said he would call on Gibbs and Ogoundele- Tessi who has been discrediting the leadership of Union pour le Progres while campaigning for the 2010 elections to resign. He said he already indicated to Gibbs last October where he told him that if he wants to head his own list in 2012 he must resign from the UPP and give up his portfolios. Fleming also made the announcement publicly when he was asked to react to the comments made recently by Ogoundele Tessi and Gibbs on a radio interview. Last week Fleming sent an email to all members of the UPP in the territorial council inviting them to a meeting on Monday June 7 at 5:30pm. The contents of the email is as follows " a la demande du leader de votre groupe, je vous prie de bien vouloir noter que votre presence a la reunion de ce lundi 7 Juin a partir de 17h30, aux portes de Saint Martin est Indespensable. A l'orde du jour de cette reunion, un point unique: Intervention de LCF. Tout absent (non excuse) sera considere comme dimissionaire."
Asked about the email Fleming said that his secretary felt it was necessary to add that content since several of the members don't show up for the weekly meetings where he updates them on his mission as senator. Most of the councilors he said are not doing their job and it is at these meetings he would insist on them to do their work since the people of St. Martin has placed their confidence in them.
He said on Monday all of the members except two of them who were travelling did not attend and at no point he asked Gibbs or anyone else to resign. "My intention is to get things in order before I address the two members (Gibbs and Ogoundele). Fleming further said.
Fleming said an emergency meeting was held on Thursday evening at his office and all the members of the UPP have decided to call both Gibbs and Ogoundele Tessi to order. He said while the UPP is working on his rules the party president has to set up another meeting with both Gibbs and Ogoundele Tessi.
Fleming said Gibbs could remain an independent councilor if he chooses to resign but under no circumstances he would be allowed to criticize the government he is part of for political mileage. Fleming further explained that Gibbs for months now has been attacking him and his competencies. One example is that as soon as he became president of the Semsamar Gibbs requested that an audit be conducted even though his father held the presidency for 20 years. Fleming said apart from that Gibbs wants to have an adhoc committee installed to review all the tax measures and proposals for St. Martin. "According to what I heard Gibbs would make this proposal at the next territorial council meeting. This tells me something is wrong with Daniel Gibbs because all tax measures to be implemented by the Collectivity Gibbs voted in favor of them. It is either he doesn't know what he voted for or he does not know what he is doing." Fleming said everyone has a right to want to be president and they all can postulate if they managed to get 26 people on a list. "I am not against anyone who wants to become the president of the Collectivity however they cannot be part of my list when that time comes." Fleming further explained that when he selected his candidates to form the UPP he did not select Ogoundele-Tessi and Gibbs, instead he said former Mayor Albert Fleming approached him and asked him to put them on his list. "This is one thing I regret because if I had chosen them then I know that I am responsible for their actions. However, I still take responsibility for making them part of the UPP."
As for Ogoundele-Tessi he said she should have been sanctioned years ago because the territorial councilor is collecting Euros 1, 647 as indemnity every month and she is not participating in meetings and commissions. "Marthe Ogoundele-Tessi does not attend any meetings even though she is part of the commissions. She does nothing yet she is collecting tax-payers monies as an indemnity. St Martin is in a financial crisis and we should have sanctioned her before." Fleming said.
Constant Fleming said Ogoundele-Tessi has been speaking against the UPP since 2008 when she wanted to become president when he was sanctioned. He said at the time he felt everyone makes mistakes and he gave the councilor time to heal. Fleming said two months later Ogoundele-Tessi voted for him to become senator and thus he felt she was going to be more active. " I did not take action because I did not want anyone to say I going after her for my personal agenda, but now things have gotten out of hand." Fleming concluded.
