PHILIPSBURG:--- On Monday members of the media on St. Maarten boycotted the meetings of parliament due to a press release sent out last week informing members of media the dress code of parliament. In that press release its states that members of the media should wear a “jacket” in order for them to access the press-room in parliament. The press release further states that those members of the media who does not abide with the dress code will have to sit in the public tribune.
While parliament sent out a press release to say how members of the media to dress in order for them to attend parliament meetings, so far parliament have not taken the initiative to keep Members of Parliament out of the press room while meetings are taking place. Most of the time certain Members of Parliament would leave their seats and occupy the press room where they hold conversations to distract members of the press from the speakers that are on the floor speaking. Besides that Parliament is yet to install head-phones that would allow members of the media to listen to the meetings and not be distracted by noise and disturbances from some politicians and members of parliament.
During the meeting on Monday MP William Marlin said he heard that members of the media chose to boycott the meetings due to the press release that was sent out informing members of the media of parliament’s dress code. Marlin said he expects to discuss this matter with the President of Parliament and the faction leaders and if that is not possible he will call for a public meeting.
