PHILIPSBURG:--- The bloopers in the Parliament of St. Maarten continue as the MPs that are elected fail read and comply with the country's constitution. This is the second time a Member of Parliament violated article 53 of the country's constitution.
On Monday MP Lloyd Richardson voted in favor of his own appointment where he was appointed the chairman of Parliament. Some ten MPs attended Monday's central committee meeting when the fourth agenda point was dealt with. That fourth agenda point was to appoint the chair of Parliament. The meeting was chaired by the second vice chair of Parliament MP Cornelius de Weever as the first vice chairperson Leona Romeo Marlin did not attend the meeting. Of the ten votes cast, seven including MP Richardson's vote was in favor while the other three were blank. So far no one from the Parliament of St. Maarten would explain why any MP would violate the country's constitution. If MP Lloyd Richardson did not vote as prescribed in the country's constitution, he would have still had enough votes to appoint him as the chairman of the Parliament. One of the excuses given was that the voting was done by secret vote therefore no one could prove if the MP voted for himself. Well SMN News asked the three other MPs that attended the meeting and they all confirmed that they voted blank.
During the last governing period former MP Jules James voted on the Pelican (Simpson Bay Resort) issue and the Governor of St. Maarten called the chair of Parliament to order on this matter. In order to provide clarity for our readers, article 53 of the country's constitution is added to this article, at the bottom of the article the entire English translation of the country's constitution can be read.
Article 53
- Members of Parliament shall refrain from debating and voting on issues, including appointments, suspensions and dismissals, that personally concern them, their spouses or relations by blood or affinity to the second degree, or in which they are involved as mandatories.
- The first paragraph does not apply to decision on the admission of the newly elected Members of Parliament following the regular dissolution of Parliament.
- Members of Parliament may not:
- work as attorneys or local counsel in legal cases in which the Country is involved;
- vote in Parliament on the enactment or approval of the accounts of a body in which they hold a seat on the managing board;
- accept work for the Country, stand surety for this or participate in this, directly or indirectly;
- participate directly or indirectly in private pledges of goods or rights of the Country
- If so required in the interest of the Country, Parliament may grant dispensation in certain cases from the prohibitions referred to in paragraph 3
Click here to read the constitution of Country St. Maarten.
