Philipsburg:--- Deputy Prime Minister and leader of the National Alliance William Marlin told reporters on Monday afternoon at a national press conference that the Prime Minister of St. Maarten Sarah Wescot Williams committed fraud when she hid a letter that was sent by the Governor of St. Maarten informing her that she has to respect the wishes of the majority in the Council of Ministers. Marlin said he did not decide on a way forward as how he and the other members of the Council of Ministers would handle the matter. He said right now the ball is in Governor's court as well as those in the Kingdom Council of Ministers. Marlin further explained that had he or the other Ministers known that the Governor of St. Maarten sent a letter to the Prime Minister which was also carbon copied to the Council of Ministers they would have held on and not turn in their resignation last week. Marlin said each time he tried to get the Prime Minister to do the honorable thing by honoring the decision taken by five members of the Council of Ministers on May 7th, 2013 and the Prime Minister did not comply he informed the Governor. Marlin said when he realized that the Governor was not taking a strong enough stand he decided to end the political crisis because the chairman of Parliament could not have continued stalling the meeting of Parliament that was called to discuss the political situation neither could he allow the polarization in the community to continue.
Marlin further explained that he informed the Governor of St. Maarten drs. Eugene Holiday that he wanted three things to take place knowing what has happened during the past year, and that was to dissolve the Parliament of St. Maarten and call for early elections, dismiss the Council of Ministers, and to install a cabinet that would take care of the country's business pending the new elections. Marlin said the Governor did not even have to dismiss the Wescot Williams II Cabinet because the five Ministers were willing to submit their resignations pending early elections. Marlin also clarified to reporters on Monday afternoon that he did not commit any crime as alleged by the Prime Minister. He said when he sent his letter and LB to the Governor he did not impersonate the Prime Minister or the Council of Ministers. He said he sent the LB and letter informing the Governor that since the Prime Minister is refusing to deal with the matter in the Council of Ministers he had no choice but to submit the document to him.
Marlin also indicated that he submitted another request on Monday to see if the Prime Minister would honor the letter sent to her by the Governor of St. Maarten which is to respect the wishes of the majority in the Council of Ministers according to article 59 of the country's constitution.
The leader of the National Alliance said that the Prime Minister tarnished the image of her office, her actions were despicable and shameful, yet the Governor of St. Maarten rewarded her by nominating her formateur to form a new government. Marlin said that what the Prime Minister did is unacceptable and he wants to make clear that even though the letter is carbon copied to the members of the Council of Ministers that document is an incoming document and it had to be booked into the administration, which was not done up to Friday May 24th, 2013 when he checked with the secretariat.
Several members from the Council of Ministers believe that Marlin should now take a step further and file a complaint with the Prosecutor's Office or even with the Kingdom Council because the Prime Minister committed an illegal act.
