PHILIPSBURG:--- Several political parties met with their membership during the end of last week and even on Saturday evening to discuss a way forward in this political crisis facing St. Maarten. According to leader of the National Alliance who was on PJD-2 radio on Sunday said that the people of St. Maarten have decided to give the current Council of Ministers until Tuesday to tender their resignation and submit it to the governor of St. Maarten. Marlin said based on the people if the Gumbs cabinet does not comply by Tuesday 5pm then they must be prepared to face the nation.
Marlin addressed statements made by Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs during his national address, where he stated that they are doing what is necessary to stop the carnival. The National Alliance leader said that it seems as though the Prime Minister forgot that it’s the same carnival or ship jumping got him a job as Prime Minister of St. Maarten. He said it is because of MP Cornelius de Weever and Leona Romeo Marlin that jumped from the first coalition (red, white and blue) DP and USP that was formed hours after the 2014 Parliamentary elections that allowed Marcel Gumbs to be appointed as Prime Minister, same he says goes for Minister Dennis Richardson whom he got appointed while in office at the high Council of State.
Marlin in his interview with Fernando Clark again called on the Minister of Justice Dennis Richardson to act responsibly and respect the constitution of St. Maarten. He said that the Minister of Justice Dennis Richardson told Parliament that if the majority in Parliament gives him a motion of no confidence he will pack his bags and leave. “It’s been 11 days now since that motion came down and the Minister of Justice is still in office acting as if nothing happens and is doing business as usual. I personally called the Minister of Justice because I worked with him for years, dating back to 1995 when hurricane Luis devastated the island and I also worked with him during the constitutional process. Dennis Richardson and Eugene Holiday were my right hand men during the negotiations. Because of that I took it upon myself to call the Dennis Richardson and I personally told him to do the honorable thing and resign. I made the same call when I held a press conference last week and when I was on Oral Gibbs show now I am doing the same thing again today. The people of St. Maarten have spoken and they are prepared. As a leader I made it clear to the people we do not want anything like what happened on May 30th 1969 in Curacao. While we know they have a right to demonstrate and act we are telling them to do so peacefully. However, I still believe that the Council of Ministers can prevent all of this by just respecting the constitution and not hold the Governor of St. Maarten hostage.” Marlin said the Governor cannot appoint a formateur or allow the new coalition to proceed unless he gets the resignation from the Gumbs cabinet.
Marlin then went on to read an article that was published by all media houses in 2013 when the National Alliance led coalition had what was described as the Mexican stand-off (link to the article can be found beneath is article). Back then the UPP leader said the laws on St. Maarten are clear and there should be democracy on St. Maarten. Marlin asked where is the leader of the UPP who know what the constitution states in 2013. He said whatever happens in the coming days will fall on the shoulders of the UPP leader.
