Philipsburg:--- Prime Minister Sarah Wescot Williams is furious about the extra ordinary meeting that was called by the majority to dissolve the parliament of St. Maarten on Tuesday. Wescot Williams told reporters at the Council of Ministers' press briefing on Wednesday that she stated before that she would not be part of any ploy that serves to damage the reputation of country St. Maarten. Wescot Williams said she remains adamant about the stance she took. Wescot Williams explained that what transpired on Tuesday afternoon is nothing short of "insanity". While the Prime Minister said she refused to discuss the matter further, she ended up speaking more about the meeting and the steps that were followed more than anything else during the weekly press briefing. "Every rule in the book has been trampled upon, and if this is accepted as the so called growing pains then God help us all. It is sad to see the level we are seemingly sinking to, I say so because whatever is the outcome we the people of St. Maarten would have to live with it. I expect the Parliament of St. Maarten to come out strongly against the insanity that was committed on Tuesday." The Prime Minister claimed that she was threatened by letter on Monday that if she did not put the disbanding of Parliament on the agenda Tuesday morning then a separate meeting would be called in the afternoon and the chairmanship of the Council of Ministers would be usurped by the Deputy Chairman. "I could not believe what I was told in the letter and so when I received the invitation for the meeting I just placed it aside." Wescot Williams said it is not fair to compromise the position of the governor and she will not participate in the anarchy.
The Prime Minister was quizzed by reporters about the political developments on St. Maarten so she could shed light on the situation. SMN News reporter asked the Prime Minister to explain the rules of law that were broken on Tuesday when the extra ordinary meeting was called and how she would describe her actions pertaining to the letter of May 16th, 2013 that was sent to her and carbon copied to the Council of Ministers.
SMN News reporter also asked the Prime Minister to share a copy of the previously mentioned letter that will show when she booked the letter in with the secretariat. Wescot Williams said that the letter was addressed to her and she cannot understand how it is possible that it ended up on the internet, she felt that should be investigated. Wescot Williams said she will not provide a copy of the letter because she will not perpetrate such practices by divulging or sharing government documents with the media. It should be noted that up to last Friday that letter was not submitted to the secretariat. Wescot Williams said that she took her personal letter she received and distributed it to the Council of Ministers. The Prime Minister said she placed the letter on the agenda as incoming documents on Tuesday. When she was asked by SMN News if the letter was discussed and if the Ministers were given an opportunity to vote on the document. The Prime Minister said that is not how the procedures work and she felt that the rules are being trampled upon.
Reporters also asked the Prime Minister if she received a letter from the governor regarding the petition drive and if she dealt with it as was requested by the Governor. The Prime Minister said that she received two letters one for her consideration and a second letter which is for the consideration of the Council of Ministers. Wescot Williams said that she will soon be sending a response to the governor on the petition. The Prime Minister further stated that the right to petition is also in the constitution.