Marigot:--- The State Council (Conseil d'État) rendered its decision on the in-illegibility of President Alain Richardson on Friday morning. The State Council in its decision said President Alain Richardson must resign from his position as President of the Collectivity of St. Martin and he has been deemed in-illegible for a period of 18 months. The file number on the decision taken against President Richardson is No:364-071.
Based on the decision rendered by the State Council, President Richardson cannot postulate himself as a candidate for the senate seat which will become available in September 2014.
The State Council, Commission national des comptes de campagne et des financements politiques (CNCCFP) on March 27th, 2013 examined the campaign accounts for the RRR Party and rejected the RRR campaign accounts based on a decision of November 21st, 2012.
The Prefecture of St. Martin confirmed to SMN News on Friday that a copy of the decision was sent to them, but they do not have the power to release the document to the media. However, the Cabinet of the Prefet Phillipe Chopin confirmed that President Richardson has to resign from his seat and he received 18 months of in-illegibility.
On Saturday March 30th, 2013, President Richardson told reporters at a special press conference that he was notified of the decision on March 27th, 2013 and that the Conseil d'État would give its final decision within one month. SMN News reported on March 29th, 2013 that the State Council would have rendered its decision within two weeks.
While President Richardson is not the first President who had to leave his seat because of his campaign accounts not meeting State regulations, he is the first one to have received such harsh punishment.
The leader of Union pour les Progres Louis Constant Fleming was sanctioned twice during his career as a politician. Once when he lead the United St. Martin Movement (USM) and when he led the UPP list. On both occasions L.C. Fleming was given a one year sanction of in-illegibility but L.C. Fleming still managed to get himself elected as senator after the one year sanction was up. It appears as though the State Council decided to increase its sanction against President Richardson to ensure that he does not postulate for the senate seat next year.
During the press conference on Saturday March 30th, 2013, President Richardson said the State Council rejected his campaign accounts because he had two accounts for the RRR political campaign. One of those accounts he said was a USD account and his lawyer argued that the Conseil d'État needs to consider the specifities and or realities of St. Martin because the island is the only French territory that shares an open border with another country while US dollars are widely used on the French side. President Richardson also said that the two accounts were open at the same bank on the French side of the island and most importantly the accounts were not used simultaneously.
When SMN News reporter asked President Richardson if he ever opened two accounts for his political campaign when he campaigned before he was finally elected in 2012, President Richardson said this was the first time he opened two accounts, even though he knew that the CNCCFP is looking for one account to audit campaign funding.
With this sanction the RRR party will not get back the Euros 22,000.00 they spent on their election campaign in 2012.
