Marigot/Philipsburg:--- Former Minister of Tourism and Economic Affairs Franklin Meyers admitted on SOS radio on Tuesday morning that he knew about the Bada Bing tape via reliable sources and he also saw the tape prior to it being made public two weeks ago. Meyers said when he heard of the tape he did not doubt his sources who told him about the tape and when he saw it and it was made public, for him it was a dark day for St. Maarten. When Meyers was asked by the host of Talking Point if he knew that the tape would have been made public, Meyers said when he heard of the tape he did not know the whereabouts of tape and he did not know what course it would have taken. "When I mentioned it on your radio program I did not see the tape yet and I did not know where it was at that time. However, I am taking responsibility for what I said that day on your radio program."
The former Minister said that he was surprised when the tape was made public and the manner in which it was made public. Meyers said he was also surprised when he learned that De Telegraaf in the Netherlands had gotten hold of the tape before the local media on St. Maarten, or if the local media had the tape and did not publish it. (Editor's note: De Telegraaf never got the tape, the only media house that had possession of the tape was the Daily Herald who claimed it was dropped in their mail box.) Meyers further explained that there are some sources one can count on as being reliable and the person who told him of the tape was one of the persons he counted as one of his reliable sources. He said the source did not only tell him about the tape but they also indicated to him who was on the videotape.
When Meyers was asked if he is happy that the tape has been made public, Meyers said he is not happy that the videotape was made public because it tarnishes St. Maarten as a country and not only the Member of Parliament that is involved. He said in politics they throw punches at each other which he described as part of the political game but the end result is what these kinds of things do to the credibility of St. Maarten. He said just recently an MP in the Netherlands said that MPs on St. Maarten are being paid too much while they are sleeping. Meyers said as an example the Dutch, whom he believes have their motives, spoke across the board about the Parliamentarians and they did not individualize anyone. "This is what the videotape footage has done; St. Maarten is seen as corrupt not just the two persons that are on the tape alone but the entire country is looked at as being corrupt." Meyers said the reason his faction called for a speedy inquiry into this matter is to show the Dutch that St. Maarten has the capabilities to do what she has to do regarding matters such as this because there is no need for the Dutch to step into this matter. "The Dutch looks for every opportunity to slip in through the back door so that they can divide and rule." Meyers said that the Dutch is using these little tactics to impose higher supervision on St. Maarten where they would get to control the governing apparatus of the country. He further stated that when there are situations such as these (meaning the videotape showing an MP accepting what looks like a bribe) then the Dutch gets the opportunity to scrutinize St. Maarten while St. Maarten would not be able to scrutinize them. Meyers said that some years ago there was a big scandal in the Netherlands involving Dutch MPs and St. Maarten could not have said anything because there is no entity on St. Maarten to supervise the Netherlands.
The former Minister said he finds it rather unfair that when one politician is caught on tape committing a crime or any wrong doing that the Dutch would label the entire island as being corrupt.
Meyers refused to comment on the statements made by the owner of Bada Bing; Jaap van den Heuvel who said that the videotaping was orchestrated by the leader of the United Peoples Party Theodore Heyliger. Meyers said Heyliger was off island and now he is back and he will be speaking for himself.
He said that the only persons in his opinion that would orchestrate such an action is the National Alliance faction because if and when Patrick Illidge loses his seat the seat will return to the National Alliance. Meyers concluded the one hour radio program by saying that even though the names of other persons are being called now, an investigation is underway and the only two persons that would have to answer to authorities for their actions are the two people that were caught on tape, meaning MP Patrick Illidge and Jaap van den Heuvel.
It should be noted that the Minister of Justice Roland Duncan and the Head of Immigration Udo Aron were questioned last weekend on what is seen and heard on the Bada Bing videotape.
In an invited comment, Attorney General of St. Maarten Taco Stein said that the investigators are busy comparing what they were told when they questioned the Minister of Justice with the documents they confiscated when they conducted the searches. Stein said they are trying to be very prudent in their investigation and definitely more witnesses will be heard during the coming days. Stein also confirmed on Tuesday that to date Member of Parliament Patrick Illidge was not questioned and he did not contact the Prosecutor's Office even though he told reporters when he returned to the island two weeks ago that he would have checked with the Prosecutor's Office the next day. Stein also confirmed that they did not question Jaap van den Heuvel as yet because he is not on the island. When asked by SMN News reporter if the investigators have any intention to question the leader of the United Peoples Party Theodore Heyliger whose name was mentioned by several persons claiming that the UP leader offered them bribes, Stein said all of those persons will be questioned in due time. He said when these people are interrogated his office will make the information known to the public.