The governing coalition parties and their independent affiliates have "suddenly" lost interest in our own integrity chamber.
PHILIPSBURG:--- DP Member of Parliament Sarah Wescot Williams said based on the response she got from the Prime Minister of St. Maarten through the chair of parliament she has come to the conclusion that the current government and coaliton partneers have lost interest in establishing an integrity chamber on St. Maarten."This is apparent from a response I received (through the Chairperson of Parliament) from the Prime Minister, Mr. Marcel Gumbs." Wescot Williams said in a press release.
She further stated on April 23rd, she asked the Chairperson of Parliament to inform her when the public meeting would be convened to handle the draft integrity chamber law. (the St. Maarten law).
"This evoked a response from the Prime Minister by letter of the same date, suggesting putting off the handling of the law for 3 (three) weeks, because he, the Prime Minister has to travel for "urgent" government business. Excuse me, this legislation was the same one for which members of Parliament, mainly those supporting the coalition, were chided by government ministers Gumbs and Richardson, for criticizing the draft law. Now, this in itself is peculiar, as one would assume that this ordinance was passed by the coalition members before coming to Parliament.That being what it is, it is revealing that suddenly the urgency is no longer there for our own "thing".
If the Prime Minister has to travel, where is the deputy Prime Minister? The deputy Prime Minister (Minister of Justice) has until now ran with the integrity ball.
Was an agreement reached during the deputy Prime Minister's recent travel to the Netherlands?
The deputy PM traveled to the Netherlands to defend St. Maarten's position AGAINST the impending measure of higher supervision by the Kingdom Government.
The feedback given by the deputy Prime Minister upon his return to St. Maarten was rather ambiguous (not clear).
We are left with the following questions?
What travel of the Prime Minister is so important, to postpone the integrity chamber law for 3 weeks?
Are the governing parties and independent affiliates in favor of moving on our own integrity chamber law, as handled by the central committee of Parliament or are they not?
What was told to the deputy Prime Minister during his visit to the Netherlands and his audience with the Council of State and what did he commit St. Maarten to?"
