Philipsburg:--- Former Minister of Justice and Attorney at Law Roland Duncan in an interview with SMN News on Tuesday said he maintains his view that the Prime Minister of St. Maarten Sarah Wescot Williams has been abusing the power vested in her as Prime Minister and Chairman of the Council of Ministers. Duncan also stated that the Governor of St. Maarten drs. Eugene Holiday is failing in his duties as the Head of State on St. Maarten. Duncan said it has been two weeks now that St. Maarten is in a political crisis and the Governor has to step in as the representative of the State to bring about order. "So far, the Governor has not yet done so, by now the Governor should have at least given the Prime Minister an instruction to place the request of the majority of the Ministers on the agenda. Here, the Governor is taking a very impartial position which surprises me because he is very active on smaller matters. I would like to know why the Governor has not taken the decision to write an instruction in this case. The Dutch was very quick to do that in the case of the Justice Park which was just a plan. I am not saying it's the responsibility of the Governor but at a certain stage he has to take an impartial decision such as telling the Chairman of Parliament to allow the meeting to take place and he will also have to tell the Prime Minister to allow the majority to vote. Even if the MPs vote a motion of non-confidence against the Ministers, they still have the right to send Parliament home. I am looking forward for the Governor to do what he needs to do or else the Kingdom would have to step in because there is an impasse. The statements made by the Prime Minister claiming that the Deputy Prime Minister committed a crime is pure non-sense because anyone can send a letter to the Governor."
Duncan said that everyone is blaming the President of Parliament Rodolphe Samuel for postponing the meetings of Parliament but the Prime Minister of St. Maarten Sarah Wescot Williams is just as guilty by refusing to execute the request of the majority in the Council of Ministers. Duncan said since May 7th, 2013 he was very vocal in the Council of Ministers' meeting when he told the Prime Minister that she was abusing her power. Duncan said five of the seven Ministers in the Council of Ministers proposed to dissolve Parliament based on article 59 of the country's constitution and instead of the Prime Minister dealing with the request of the majority, she chose to say she needed legal advice. "The Prime Minister thinks she is in the Island Council but those days are over." Duncan said that the Prime Minister also brought an advice to the Council and she too did not follow proper procedures. He said that while the chairman is mandated to make up the agenda she does not have the right to cancel or postpone the request of the majority forever. Duncan said on May 7th when the chairman of the Council of Ministers chose not to deal with the proposal of the majority a written request was sent to her requesting that she place a meeting to discuss the political situation on St. Maarten. Duncan said the Prime Minister (Chairperson of the Council of Ministers) has two days in which she has scheduled this meeting. When asked by SMN News if that is written somewhere in the rules of order, Duncan said he believes it is in article 13 of the rules of order but he was not 100% sure if that was the correct article since he did not have the rules of order in front of him at the time the interview was conducted.
"The Prime Minister is stalling the handling of the matter, it is not her appointment and she does not have extra powers that other Ministers don't have. The only thing is she is the Chairman of the Council of Ministers. Not putting the point on the agenda is an abuse of her power, its undemocratic, and its also dictatorial." Duncan also said that the dissolution has nothing to do with the majority in Parliament.
Duncan said that the Prime Minister referred to his letter of resignation where he cited the letter from those that indicated that they form the new majority. Duncan explained that he consulted with everyone involved and when he realized that he did not have the support as a Minister he resigned. "I, Roland Duncan was appointed by MP Patrick Illidge and when I realized that my support was not there I left, the Prime Minister should not include me in what she believes and how she thinks Ministers should resign."
Duncan said what is currently taking place on St. Maarten shows immaturity on all sides, particularly when it comes to the Prime Minister and her actions. In mature politics, Parliament would send the Ministers home and the Ministers on the other hand could dissolve Parliament and call for new elections.
Duncan said right now the minority party in government is running the show (Democratic Party), the two bigger parties, the UP and NA are being held hostage by the minority the Democratic Party. "I hope with what is playing out today that the bigger party leaders will not give their Prime Minister seat to any smaller party in the future so that they can hold them hostage. If you look at what has happened the UP was in Government and they got kicked out, the NA got in and now they are being kicked out while the Democratic Party that has the least amount of seats remains in government. They will not like me for what I am saying but this is not democratic because the smaller party should not be in a position to hold the larger parties hostage. If they want to do electoral reform they should change it and allow the majority to take decisions on levels, in Government and in Parliament."
They should not try to control the Independents, the law provides immunity for Parliamentarians because MPs must have their freedom to speak and take decisions that they believe in.
When SMN News asked the former Minister if there is any truth to what is said in the community that he will be serving as an advisor to MP Romaine Laville if he makes it to become the Minister of TEATT, Duncan said he will serve his country but so far he did not make any agreement with anyone. Duncan said that he has a law firm and if anyone decides to hire his services he will provide that service if the price is right. "If Government consulted me for my services I have the right to consider whether or not I will grant the services, especially if the price is right."
