Philipsburg:--- The five members of the United Peoples Party faction of Parliament told reporters on Monday afternoon that they believe that Member of Parliament Patrick Illidge and Minister of Justice Roland Duncan should step aside now that they are under investigation for alleged bribery. The UP faction members said they are not forcing anyone to do the right thing but the current development tarnishes the house of Parliament and St. Maarten on the whole on the international front.
While the UP faction members raised several concerns about the current government and the Bada Bing investigation, they did not utter one word about the statements and emails published by SMN News that implicated their party leader Theodore Heyliger. When SMN News asked the UP MP's about that they said that they will not comment on such because their party leader is well capable of defending himself. It should be noted that SMN News contacted the UP Leader twice by email and he did not respond.
Faction leader MP Sylvia Meyers opened the press conference by stating that they are not playing politics but what is currently going on is very serious and as a faction they feel they need to address the matter. Meyers said they did not think it wise to make statements until they got certain things were clarified. MP Meyers said they are very disturbed about the current investigation that involves MP Patrick Illidge and Minister of Justice Roland Duncan. MP Meyers said the current development tarnishes the image of Parliament and its MPs. MP Meyers said the current situation has traumatized the island and its people, therefore it's a very dark moment in the history of St. Maarten. MP Meyers said there needs to be a speedy and thorough investigation into the allegations against MP Illidge. She said MPs are well paid and they do not have to make the choices that are portrayed in the video. The UP faction leader further stated that the integrity of the government is at stake and the people of St. Maarten would very much like to hear the voice of the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister regarding the video and bribery allegation against MP Illidge who is currently supporting the NA/DP /I-3 coalition government. Member of Parliament Gracita Arrindell took the opportunity to read the oath that the Members of Parliament took when they took office. MP Arrindell also lashed out at Deputy Prime Minister William Marlin who said that the Bada Bing saga is looking more like a James Bond movie now that the Leader of the United Peoples Party is implicated. Arrindell said she thinks that the Deputy Prime Minister and Prime Minister of St. Maarten does not understand the seriousness of the matter. Arrindell said that integrity, accountability, and transparency are the three basic principles of good governance and it is also at the heart of the Bada Bing scandal. MP Arrindell said it is clear that the issue has cast a very negative shadow on the Parliament, Government, and the country. Arrindell said no one is perfect and no one far from weaknesses, only God is perfect. She continued by stating that when the elephants fight the grass gets trampled upon. "The grass in this case is the people of St. Maarten, residents and visitors to the island who come to invest or for recreation." Arrindell said the Bada Bing scandal has hit the globe. Arrindell made an open call to Member of Parliament Patrick Illidge and the Minister of Justice Roland Duncan who was questioned as a witness to do the honorable thing and step aside as the wheels of justice turn.
Member of Parliament Ruth Douglass in her short statement said the laws of St. Maarten need to be revised especially when it involves unscrupulous behavior of representatives of the people. MP Douglass said she would like to have a bill of rights in place for parliamentarians that would clarify the code of conduct of these elected officials. MP Douglass said there is a colleague in Parliament who has threatened another colleague, and the way politicians express themselves liberally.
Member of Parliament Johan "Janchi" Leonard said he is not passing judgment on anyone, however, there is a MP that is currently under investigation and they will wait on the outcome of that investigation. MP Leonard said the Minister of Justice was questioned by the National Detectives in connection with the Bada Bing Investigation. Leonard said integrity in Government is one of the pillars of Democracy, the country has been shaken to core of its foundation with respect to the alleged bribery and corruption. Leonard said the process of government should be open and transparent in order to rule out any conflict of interest. Leonard said that they received information that there have been alleged kick-backs of government related projects. Leonard said these allegations are coming from the people of St. Maarten. Leonard said they read in the news that an MP is a director of a company that has been carrying out construction works at the harbour. Leonard said this MP is part of the NA/DP/I-3 coalition government who appointed the Minister for the Harbour Affairs. "Even a blind man can see that this is an outright conflict of interest which still has to be addressed by Parliament."
In addressing the Justice Park, Leonard said he was always against this project because it would cost 100 million dollars and there is a cloud hanging over it. Leonard said their faction got information that kick-backs have been paid to a top government official in order for the project to move forward. Leonard said because of these types of information the country's integrity is at stake. Leonard said it has also been alleged that the bureau of communication is purchasing a building that would cost 7 million dollars and top government officials are to get kick-backs from this business deal. Leonard said he wants to know where are the checks and balances within the Government of St. Maarten. Leonard issued a call to the relevant authorities to dig deeper to see if any of the things they have been hearing has any truth to it. Leonard said where there is smoke there is fire and if the integrity of the country is not addressed then St. Maarten will be like a banana republic.
Member of Parliament Jules James also called on the Minister of Justice and MP Illidge to consider stepping aside while the investigation in the Bada Bing scandal is taking place. James said to date nothing was done by the justice ministry regarding the complaint he filed against Romaine Laville who he claimed threaten his life. He said despite the threats the Minister of Justice issued a gun license to the MP. MP James said the investigation involves one of their ranks and by no means none of them are without sin and they are not passing judgment of guilt or casting the first stone against anyone as they will allow the justice system to take its course.
Bad Joke Got Out of Hand --- Reliable Sources.
SMN News received information that the taping of MP Patrick Illidge is now being described by those who orchestrated the taping as "bad joke" that got out of hand. Sources close to the UP Party said that a reporter of the Daily Herald was given the tape so he could doctor it for next year's election but a former Minister of the UP faction is the one who took the unedited version of the tape and dropped it at the Herald's mailbox. A certain individual within the community who is close to the UP board members said that this is the explanation they were given last week when the scandal broke. However, SMN News was unable to make contact with the persons whose names were called as being part of the scheme to tape MP Illidge while he was collecting monies from the owner of Bada Bing strip club.
