Philipsburg:--- Member of Parliament of the United Peoples Party Faction Johan Janchi Leonard did almost everything possible on Monday during a Central Committee meeting with the Minister of VROMI William Marlin to push the Minister over the limit when he asked for documents that are non existent. Leonard said the Minister and the Members of Parliament were making statements that are living its own life and he wanted to prove to the people of St. Maarten that some of the things that are said about the former Minister of VROMI and the leader of the United Peoples Party Theodore Heyliger are simply hearsay. During a point of clarification MP Leonard insisted that he wanted a conversation (instruction) that the former Minister of VROMI gave to Volker Stevens the contractor that is working on the causeway in writing. Minister Marlin said he knew that MP Leonard was pushing him to become angry but he will not tolerate the game MP Leonard was playing because he cannot create "zombies" for the Member of Parliament. The Minister also made clear that while Members of Parliament can call Ministers and question them on their portfolios he will not tolerate anyone who tries to humiliate him. On several occasions the Chairman of Parliament Romaine La Ville had to inform MP Leonard that he was out of order and that he needed to stick to the agenda point. At some point during the central committee meeting the people of St. Maarten and those that tuned in via internet had to endure severe politricking with the questions that were posed by certain Members of Parliament.
Minister Marlin told Parliament during the Central Committee meeting that the Department of Public Works issued a building permit for 23 ½ meters high for the causeway way but according to the contractor Volker Stevens the former Minister of VROMI Theodore Heyliger instructed them to build the bridge to 43 ½ meters high to accommodate Aesthetics lighting. Marlin said when he took office he made sure the contractor was informed that they had to stick to the building permit that was granted to them. Minister Marlin also made clear that based on the instructions the former Minister gave to Volker Stevens it would cost St. Maarten more monies to redesign the causeway. He further explained that since the construction of the causeway is already under way the contractor would have to break down part of bridge and rebuild it in order for it to be in conformity of the building permit. Marlin said that the Minister had no right to give instructions to the contractor because the contract was signed between the harbor and Volker Stevens, he also said that the contractor did not have any right taking verbal instructions from the Minister and in his opinion the contractor was also wrong when they went ahead with the wishes of the former Minister of VROMI and began constructing the bridge higher than what they were permitted to do. Marlin also made clear on Monday afternoon that he has nothing against French citizens as was portrayed by certain politicians and a newspaper article.
Marlin also provided parliament with answers about the land swap agreement the former Minister made with the owners of Port de Plaisance.
The Minister of VROMI was asked by MP Gracita Arrindell to itemize all the structures on the monument list she asked for since some of the monuments on the list are listed as lot numbers. MP Arrindell said she wanted to know what is on each lot.