Harbor View:--- A small group of people gathered at the Governor's office on Monday morning seeking an audience with Governor drs. Eugene Holiday to get answers from him regarding the petitions they submitted to him to call for new elections. Lisa Alexander, the main organizer of the petition drive, was the only person who was invited inside to speak with Governor Holiday.
Alexander told her supporters after meeting with Governor Holiday that Governor Holiday gave her a letter acknowledging receipt of the petitions that were submitted to him on May 17th and May 24th, 2013. Governor Holiday also stated in his letter that was addressed to Lisa Alexander that he reviewed the petitions that were sent to him and referred them to Prime Minister Sarah Wescot Williams for her attention and further handling by the Council of Ministers.
Alexander then went to the Government Administration Building where she hand delivered a copy of the letter the Governor gave her to each of the Ministers that were in office on Monday.
Rene "Koto" Wilson told reporters at the Government Administration Building that he noticed that the Ministers accepted the letters with grace but he wants them to know that if his democratic rights are exploited and if the rules of law are not followed then he will be taking a trip to the Netherlands with his lawyer to represent himself. "If it comes to that then I will be bringing down the fire and brimstone on St. Maarten because what I will expose in Holland no politician in St. Maarten will like. I am giving the politicians until the end of this month to deal with the political crisis on St. Maarten and the wishes of the people and if that does not happen by the end of this month then I will do what I have to do in the Kingdom Council of Ministers."
In an invited comment, Deputy Prime Minister William Marlin said that he wrote a letter to the Governor of St. Maarten and he does not intend to give up the fight. Marlin said that the Prime Minister intended to place the Governor's letter that was sent on May 16th and his requests to have the political situation discussed on the agenda of June 4th, 2013. Marlin said that on Tuesday June 4th, 2013 the majority intends to take a step further to ensure that the will of the majority in the Council of Ministers is dealt with and the petitions that were sent to the Governor.
Marlin said that the Prime Minister has been adamant with her position which is not to place the matter on the agenda, the Prime Minister even in her letter stated that now that the cabinet resigned that has strengthened her position. Marlin further stated that the Prime Minister's approach is incorrect because even a caretaker cabinet can make use of article 59 of the constitution to dissolve parliament. Marlin said since May 7th, 2013 they have been trying to exercise their democratic right based on the constitution but the Prime Minister has been abusing her power and blocking them from executing a decision taken by the majority in the Council of Ministers.
Marlin said the letter dated May 16th that was sent by the Governor to the Prime Minister clearly stated that the majority must be allowed to exercise their right, and failure to do that will be tampering with the constitutional process. Marlin said the majority of the Council of Ministers intends to ensure that the decision they took on May 7th, 2013 is dealt with on Tuesday June 4th, 2013.
