Dutch Quarter:--- Minister of Justice Roland Duncan announced at the graduation ceremony at the Police Academy that he tendered his resignation at 4pm on Friday afternoon due to the current political situation on St. Maarten. In an interview with SMN News, Minister Duncan said that even though he tendered his resignation on Friday, his position remains the same as of Tuesday where he indicated that he will not support the Prime Minister with her dictator attitude when she proposed that the Wescot Williams II Cabinet resign based on a letter that was sent to the President of Parliament. "Prime Minister Wescot Williams jumped the gun and I made it clear to her that what she is doing is unconstitutional. The constitution states in article 33 -2 that the individual Ministers have to make their position available when they lose the support of Parliament. What I have a problem with is the fact that the Prime Minister is trying to manipulate the constitution which in my view is dictatorship. The constitution states that the Government and the Governor are the ones that have to take the decision to dissolve Parliament and not the Prime Minister alone. This is in the Dutch Constitution since 1848, over 200 years ago.
The Minister of Justice who is still functioning until there is a replacement said that the reason he submitted his resignation on Friday is to let everyone know that he is not in need of a job. Furthermore, the letter that was signed by eight Members of Parliament to say they are forming a new government does not bear the signature of the Member of Parliament who appointed him as Minister (referring to Member of Parliament Patrick Illidge). "That means my term is up and that is enough reason for me to leave office. Those Members of Parliament who signed the letter formed a majority in Parliament and they clearly indicated that they do not have confidence in me so I did the honorable thing and tendered my resignation when I wanted to and not when the Prime Minister wanted me to do so because that is not within the constitution."
Prime Minister penned Letter to Minister of Economic Affairs on Labour and Immigration Control after her son's Restaurant was Inspected.
SMN News learnt some weeks ago that inspectors from the Inspectorate of Health, Labour, and Immigration conducted an inspection in the Simpson Bay/Cupe Coy area and one of the businesses that were inspected is Brasserie New York in Cupe Coy, that business establishment is owned by the son of the Prime Minister Andy Wescot. According to information provided to SMN News, the inspectors found a number of illegal workers and other health violations. SMN News further learnt that the owner of the restaurant insulted the inspectors and even asked them if they knew who he was. Several business persons in the Simpson Bay/Cupe Coy area told SMN News that they are extremely dissatisfied with the way government dealt with the matter because even though the restaurant was found with several violations including health violations, the restaurant was never shut down or fined by the inspectors. "If it was one of us, they would have shut us down and we would have been taken to court and issued with a huge fine despite the economic situation on St. Maarten."
On Friday, SMN News asked Minister of Justice Roland Duncan if the information SMN News received has any truth to it and if he could comment on the matter. Minister Duncan confirmed that an inspection was conducted at the establishment "Brasserie New York" and the inspectors found a number of violations. When SMN News reporter asked if the process verbal was made up and sent to the Prosecutor's Office, Duncan said that it was being worked on. He said he could not remember if it was six or seven persons found working at the establishment illegally but he does know that illegal workers were found along with other health violations. Minister Duncan further explained that the Public Prosecutor informed him that they are in the process of preparing the process verbal in order to prosecute the businessman but he could not say how far they are with the process.
Minister Duncan also confirmed that the Prime Minister sent a letter to the Minister of Economic Affairs (TEATT) Romeo Pantophlet which was also copied to him. The Prime Minister expressed some concerns that she has about the raids. The Minister of Justice said he did not respond to the Prime Minister's letter which was sent after her son's restaurant was raided.
