Philipsburg:--- Chaos and confusion erupted in the House of Parliament on Friday morning when the Chairman of Parliament Rodolphe Samuel lectured the fourteen Members of Parliament that attended the meeting before adjourning the meeting until Monday claiming that he needed legal advice.
The head of the Legal Affairs Department sent an advice to the Prime Minister expressing doubt regarding the legality of the motion of non-confidence that was passed against four Ministers on Monday by eight MPs from the UP/DP Laville coalition. The legal affairs department informed the Prime Minister that there were several procedural errors when the motion was tabled and passed by the eight Members of Parliament on Monday. The Department of Legal Affairs even contacted the griffier of Parliament to furnish them with information on how the meeting took place in order for them to complete their advice and after receiving a response from the griffier of Parliament they concluded that they could not submit a coherent legal advice to the Prime Minister of St. Maarten.
The House of Parliament was filled to its capacity with several detectives that were there to ensure that safety and security was at its best.
While fourteen Members of Parliament attended the meeting many of them from the UP/DP/Laville faction signed the speakers list, but they did not sign in to form a quorum for the meeting to precede. Therefore, the meeting that was scheduled to begin at 10am began closer to 10:30am. Samuel in his address to Parliament explained that he could not start the meeting because several MPs took their seat but did not sign in for the meeting. He said the rules of order clearly states that if there is no quorum then a meeting of Parliament cannot be convened.
Samuel lamented that he is the President of the Parliament of St. Maarten and the only way he can be removed from his chair is if the majority Members of Parliament vote a motion of non-confidence against him. He said that could only take place in the House of Parliament and not by anyone sending him a letter. Samuel further explained that he already said that whenever he does not enjoy the majority in Parliament he will willingly resign from his position. While the Chairman of Parliament was making his statements, MP Leroy de Weever said he had a point of order but the chairman quickly told him that he did not have the floor to speak. At the time, Deputy Prime Minister William Marlin attended the meeting so he could have given his side of the story had the meeting took place.
The President of Parliament told the MPs that they needed to follow the rules of order that governed the House of Parliament since they are the highest legislative body on St. Maarten. Samuel said that the gathering that was held Monday where the eight Members of Parliament voted a motion of non-confidence against four Ministers has created confusion in the community and therefore there needs to be clarity on the matter. Samuel said that the people of St. Maarten need an explanation on the political situation. He said that even though eight MPs do form the majority of Parliament if those MPs does not follow the rules then St. Maarten has a huge problem.
When Samuel ended his statements, he referred to the advice that was sent to the Prime Minister by the Department of Legal Affairs. He said based on that he too is now seeking legal advice to determine whether the four Ministers namely William Marlin, Roland Tuitt, Silveria Jacobs, and Romeo Pantophlet were legally sent home or if they will be sent home twice. When Samuel announced that the meeting is adjourned until Monday, MPs from the UP faction, DP faction, and Laville started shouting, claiming that MP De Weever had a point of order. UP MP Johan Janchi Leonard seemed breathless when he jumped out of his seat and told the Chairman that MP De Weever had a point of order. MP Roy Marlin, MP Gracita Arrindell, and MP Laville all began to shout saying that they have to get the opportunity to speak but Samuel informed them that they did not have the floor then he slammed the hammer and said the meeting is adjourned.
MP Jules James was overheard yelling that this is the "Mexican standoff" the Deputy Prime Minister William Marlin was referring to when he gave his first press conference. "William, the Chairman of Parliament is carrying out your orders. He learned from you," MP Jules James said out of frustration.
As the commotion continued after the meeting, the Prime Minister of St. Maarten Sarah Wescot Williams rushed over to the House of Parliament to meet with the MPs who said that they are now the majority that would form the Wescot Williams III Cabinet. The outcome of Monday's meeting left many members of the community confused, many of them were calling for the Dutch to intervene because the Prime Minister is refusing to execute her duties and now there is a stand off in Parliament.
Click here to view more photos of the commotion at the House of Parliament on Friday morning.
