PHILIPSBURG: --- Member of Parliament from the Democratic Party faction Sarah Wescot Williams told members of the media that she is quite satisfied with the response she received from government regarding her proposals on what should be changed in the draft law to establish the integrity chamber. Wescot Williams said government took the time to outline their reasons for each article in the law and they did accept her proposal to establish a supervisory body to oversee the integrity chamber and not allow the Dutch entity that inspect Law Enforcement Agencies to do it.
Wescot Williams said that the supervisory body will report to parliament at least twice a year or each time they have something that has to be reported to parliament as stated in article 33. Wescot Williams said she is also satisfied with the explanations she got on the article that deals with “relationships.”
On the issue of the meeting that had to be reconvened on Monday to deal with GEBE Wescot Williams said on Monday morning members of Parliament were informed via the chair of Parliament that the Prime Minister asked for the meeting to be rescheduled to a later date because he could not get the documents parliament requested from the government owned company. Further to that she said the Prime Minister indicated in his letter to parliament that he was informed that he has to be careful with what he says to Parliament if not he could be held liable. Wescot Williams said that Members of Parliament and Ministers are under immunity when on the floor of parliament, therefore the statements in the Prime Minister’s letter about being held liable are unfounded.
Wescot Williams also mentioned the development at the entrance of Simpson Bay which she said they (Members of Parliament) are unable to get answers from the persons responsible for the development.
Wescot Williams further told reporters that just recently she received a letter from the chair of parliament requesting that she relinquish her positions on two committees of Parlatino because ever since she took office she refused to attend Parlatino meetings. Wescot Williams said that the chair of Parliament wants her to give up her position on these committees so that other Members of Parliament could have them in order for them to travel and attend the meetings. She said she responded to chair by letter explaining to him that her reasons for not attending the Parlatino meetings are simple. The first being Parliament did not get the amount of monies they requested for travel, second the parliament of St. Maarten does not have an entity set up to follow up on the Parlatio meetings. Wescot Williams further explained that when she gets the invitations the first thing she does is check the schedule of Parliament and if there are meetings scheduled then she will not attend those Parlatino meetings because her first priority is what takes place in the parliament of St. Maarten. Wescot Williams said she also informed the chair that she will not relinquish her positions on the two committees but she will continue with her stance and monitor what is taking place at the parliament of St. Maarten.
