Philipsburg: ---- The portfolios of Commissioner Louis Laviest have been shared up among the other commissioners since he remains in pre trial detention as of Wednesday last week. The commissioner received an eight day extension on Friday. While pundits were expecting that the commissioner would have been released early this week it seems as if commissioner may well have to remain in custody for longer than is expected.
Reliable sources has informed SMN News that the island leader of government Sarah Wescot Williams was allowed to see the Commissioner yesterday and she informed the Commissioner that if he remains in pre-trial detention until Thursday (tomorrow)then he would have to submit a letter of resignation to the party. The source said the commissioner has decided to go along with whatever decision the party takes.
SMN News also learnt that the Democratic Party will bring back Senator Erno Labega to take up a seat in the island council. Labega would also keep his seat in parliament. No definite decision was taken on who would be appointed as the next commissioner or if the party would continue its term with four commissioners and two island council members.
The decision to share up his portfolios was taken during the executive council meeting yesterday.
Leader of Government Sarah Westcott- Williams said that they dealt with the commissioner's portfolios in their weekly meeting yesterday and she would make the information known today during the weekly press briefing.
According to sources SMN News has learnt that Commissioner Maria Buncamper Molanus would handle culture and youth affairs, the census office would remain solely under the governor, Commissioner Roy Marlin will handle labour and social affairs while the leader of government would deal with transportation. However, this reporter could not confirm if the breakdown we received was correct.
The board of the Democratic Party has met last night where the party leader updated its members on the new developments. It is expected that the DP will hold a public meeting for its members next week to bring their members up to date. One of the issues discussed last night this media house understands is a particular individual who is employed by the commissioner and is always in his office and other areas of the government administration building. SMN News understands that some of the party members are not comfortable with this person being in the government building when in fact they are not employed by government. Some of the members who were very vocal about the recent developments felt that the commissioner knew what he did and he should resign immediately and go his way. The members SMN News understands felt that the commissioner knew that this was going to happen since the investigations began almost two years ago.
Commissioner Louie Laveist is a suspect in the forging of documents; he was arrested on Wednesday last week after months of investigations being carried out by the Federal Detectives. The Federal Detectives also searched Laveist office and home on two days prior to his arrest. He is being held at the sick bay of the Pointe Blanche Prison as the investigations continue.
