PHILIPSBURG:--- Prime Minister Marlin was asked if the former government did anything to find a solution to pay off the debt the government of St. Maarten has with SZV and APS even though the former got an instruction to settle its debts. While it is known that the Member of Parliament who posed the questions appointed a Minister of TEATT who did absolutely nothing to collect the outstanding fees, while she was also the head of the Civil Registry that has the archives in a total mess. Marlin said that when he took office he saw a letter from APS where that no one in their right minds would have agreed to. One being that government had to pledge almost everything it owns to APS. Marlin further confirmed that it is his government namely the Minister of Finance Richard Gibson Sr that negotiated with SZV and came to an agreement for the government building and the settling of the debts that is owed to the two entities.
Marlin said what is currently taking place in Parliament (opposition) will do everything possible to bring down his government or say that the 2016 budget is the worst thing one ever saw, but they conveniently forgot that the draft budget was done by their former Minister of Finance.
Marlin mentioned the statements made by MP Leona Marlin who spoke about continuity in government. He said that he explained what continuity meant, but that same person is the one that was the head of the Census Office that has the archives in deplorable conditions.
Marlin said he is not expecting the opposition to support the budget when the time comes for voting but he did expect the critics and the political game that is being played especially since this is an election year.
He concluded that his government has already done more than the former government who was in office for one year while the Marlin cabinet is in office for 3 months.
