Philipsburg: --- Leader of Government William Marlin condemned the statements made by the Chairman of the island council on Thursday. Marlin said he took the statements rather serious especially since Richards was not present during the island council meeting on Monday. Marlin explained that he already indicated to the Chairman and Lt. Governor Franklyn Richards that it seemed as if the Acting Chairman of the island council Millicent de Weever does not know the rules of order. He said on several occasions the leader of the Democratic Party has been abusing the rules of order, which is being allowed by the assistant chairlady. The island leader said he personally asked the chairman to speak to the leader of the Democratic Party on respecting the rules of order. He said Richards had promised to speak with his assistant instead of the DP leader prior to him leaving for his vacation, however, he does not know if that ever happened.
Marlin said the island council lady would sign in to speak on the minutes of May and not those of July yet the chair would allow her to speak on agenda points to which she did not even sign in to speak on which he said is completely wrong. Marlin said he did not have any confrontation with any members of the island council on Monday. He said what transpired is when the chair was about to close off the island council meeting at the end of the deliberations island councilman Roy Marlin said he had a point of order and he reminded the chair that his faction leader had notified her she needed to leave the meeting. Marlin said the island councilman said he wanted to set something straight which was not a point of order if not that would cause a back and forth of statements. He said if Roy Marlin had something to say he either had to wait until the next meeting is called or write a letter to the chairman or he could also call a press conference. Marlin said even up to that point he said nothing, but when the island councilman decided to continue he decided that he needed to inform the chairlady that she has to put an end to what was taking place. Marlin said that at no time did he address the island councilman instead; he addressed the chairlady because he felt that the abuse of the rules of order must stop. The leader of government and longest member of the island council said even though he pointed that out to the chair the island councilman wanted to continue and he insisted on the chair to call the island councilman to order which she eventually did and she closed the meeting. Marlin said it his belief that since the DP faction did not get the opportunity to misuse the rules of order they decided to launch an attack via the media on him as if he does not know how to behave. Marlin said he has been a commissioner for five years (1994 to 1999) and he has been a member of the island council since 1987. Marlin said he is the longest serving member of the island council and he has never been accused of having bad conduct or that he does not know how to behave during an island council meeting. Marlin insisted that he did not address any member of the island council during his remarks.
The island leader said that he also addressed the chairlady when he said on numerous occasions that those who have created the problem are the ones screaming the loudest on the floor of the island council to create the impression that they suddenly have solutions to the existing problems. He said in that context he said since these island council members had nothing to contribute they need to shut their mouths and go home. He said he did not take away the opinion of any island council member and had he interrupt them while speaking then the chairman had the right to say they are not allowing the DP faction to voice their opinion. Marlin said if every time the opposition requested a meeting and they are not facilitated then they could be accused of hampering the process of democracy. He said at no point in time did they interrupt any speaker and so far they have not hindered democracy.
Marlin said now that the chairlady is saying that the rules of order has been misused it is the chairlady who did not interpret the rules correctly or simply does not know them.
As for the attack by the Democratic Party Marlin said, the DP faction has begun their political campaign and as such, they are looking for any and everything to turn into a political ball field.
Marlin said that since the formation of his government the Democratic Party has not even given them their preverbal 100 days in office. He said the DP has been on the attack from since day one. He said during his 20+ years in the island council no one ever broke or violated the agreement they had on the recess but the DP did so by calling for meetings on matters they created and are responsible for. He said the Dutch parliament is on recess since July and have not yet returned. Marlin said if the meetings called by the DP faction during the recess were that of an emergency and the island would, stand to loose then their actions would have been understandable. He said if this is, the way they are going to continue then there is no need for a gentleman’s agreement.
Marlin said recently the leader of the Democratic Party has been attacking things that they were responsible for while in government and are pretending as if she does not know what has happened. Marlin explained that Wescot Williams is now questioning things like the Scarlet, which the DP had four months to take a decision, and because they did not it caused the predicament. Another issue that is under questioning is the licenses that were issued by the DP as well as the labour policy, which is now under review. Marlin said the DP had the opportunity to bring changes to this policy and they did not, but now that they have decided to review and amend the policy the DP has decided to bring forward and MOU, which was not even signed by them. Marlin said even the unions in a letter to the DP led government decided they no longer wanted that policy.
Marlin said there is a political hostility on St. Maarten and the Democratic Party is sour on losing their government, which is their good right but they should not take out that bitterness on others or vent their frustration on other people including his faction. He said he kept hearing from the DP that the people have to remember who won the election in 2007. Marlin said the election is over some two years ago. He said he has said on a number of occasions that a “house divided cannot rule” which he is maintaining.
Marlin said due to the division in the Democratic Party it is now crumbling and it is not the National Alliance that has stolen their government, Marlin explained that because Island Council members Louie Laviest and Theo Heyliger resigned from the Democratic Party they are no longer in government. He said the majority of the eleven members in the island council is what formed the government, so for the DP to cry and whine on who won the election is not necessary because there are more people who voted against the DP in the last two island council elections, more than those that supported them. He said the current problem is not about of votes.
