PHILIPSBURG:--- Member of Parliament Louie Laveist sent a strong message to a particular reporter whom he said writes all sorts of articles in the newspaper he works for criticizing how government functions.
The most recent article written by the reporter criticized how Members of Parliament handle the budget debates each year. Laveist said if the reporter in question is interested in politics he should place his name on a list and contest the parliamentary elections. Furthermore he said the budget debate meetings is the only meeting where Members of Parliament could question everything that affects the proper functioning of government. "I don't tell the media how to do their work and I don't need media houses to tell me how to do my work because as a Member of Parliament and citizen I know my rights. A budget encompasses everything about the country and this is the only reason we can debate any and everything. The reporter in question could write as much as he wants or until their fingers drop off and I will do my job because I cannot figure out the hogwash the media house is trying cram down my throat."
As for the budget meeting, Laveist said that he is contesting the way the Government of St. Maarten chose to make its budget presentation on Monday. He said 97% of his questioning was geared for one Minister in particular but the Minister in question was not in Parliament, the Minister of TEATT. The MP said it appears as though the Minister in question thinks that he only has to give answers to the MPs that appointed him or the ones that he is related to, "I had a whole lot to say to one particular Minister who chose not to be here today but he will hear from me during the plenary parliamentary meeting on the budget. Today I can tell you that Minister got away by a "coat of paint", 97% of my questions were geared towards the performance or non-performance of that Minister, today he is saved by the bell." MP Laveist further stated that Ministers do not represent certain MPs or a clique, instead he is in office to represent the people of St. Maarten. "The arrogance of power by certain Minister will come back to haunt them. What is happening here is heavy handed and is marginalizing parliament," Laveist said.
Laveist said he represented St. Maarten in Parliament for a number of years when St. Maarten was part of the former Netherlands Antilles. "The way the budget presentation is done here today can only take place in St. Maarten where the only Minister in Parliament during the central committee meeting is the Minister of Finance." Laveist said the Ministry of Justice received severe cuts and he wants to know what programs have been eliminated and what was done in order to protect the people St. Maarten. He said he wants the Minister of Justice to tell Parliament how much crime fighting is affected due to cuts in the budget.
He asked the Minister of Finance to tell Parliament how much government squandered on the government building that is still not in use. He said monies were flushed down the toilet by the Minister in charge of the government building which is not in use. "Today you are coming here with some gimmick to tell parliament how many cuts were made and even Ministers are willing to cut their salaries. You did not have to do that, all you had to do is tell the people how much monies you would have gotten if you had done the right thing with regards to AUC. Don't try to give me any gimmick."
Another issue Laveist raised is the motion passed by parliament instructing government to stop issuing work permits for certain positions. Laveist said that the motion was not properly thought out. He said he did not support the motion because it will have some ramifications just as the SHTA said.
MP Louie Laveist then launched an attack on the powers given to the Harbor Holding Company. He asked the chairlady of Parliament to provide Parliament with the articles of incorporation because he wants to know what powers the Harbor Holding Company has. "The way I see things going it looks as though there are three governments on St. Martin, one being in Marigot, one on Clem Labega Square, and the other one at the Harbor." He said just recently he read that the purchase of the Emilio Wilson Park was taken away from the Government of Clem Labega Square and given to the one on the harbor. "I need to see all the documentation on the harbor because the ones I have seems to have some things missing. I want know who runs the harbor because in the near future the harbor will be responsible for the issuance of long lease land. The harbor seems to have orchestrated to render the Government on Clem Labega Square "impotent", do we have an impotent government at Clem Labega Square that they cannot execute the purchase of Emilio Estate and since when the harbor has the authority to purchase the people's patrimony?"
Laveist said it seems as though one man in the political arena owns St. Maarten and has all the say on what should take place in St. Maarten. "I want to know since when government give this one man the power to decide on the peoples patrimony. We all know who decides what on the harbor and what take place there, yet we play blind."
Laveist was especially peeved that the current government decided they will take cuts in their salaries and they did not consult Parliament. He said had government done so they might have gotten the go ahead on this. "Your government chose to do this in a sneaky way and leak it to the media who eventually called me to ask if I was willing to take a cut in my salary." He said he could have advised them to cut a wing in the government building instead of cutting salaries. "We could have taken a different approach and you as Minister of Finance could have balanced this budget otherwise." He further asked which holes the cuts in salary will fill. "I think I should have been afforded the decency and respect about the salaries and to be honest I am disgusted with you, knowing this will have a boomerang effect on MPs I find your actions repulsive."
Member of Parliament Frans Richardson posed several questions on the draft budget. MP Richardson said that it appears as though the current government is on a tight rope to ensure that the 2014 budget is run through parliament before an instruction is given to the Government of St. Maarten. Richardson said he personally knows how to work long hours and he is prepared to do just that to ensure that he gets proper answers on the draft budget presented to them on Monday by the Minister of Finance. He asked the Minister of Finance to give Parliament explanations on how he intends to complete the Little League Stadium and other projects that were halted. He said that he noticed that government has been using the same figures for the past five years. One example he gave was the amount of persons employed in the civil service even though new people are hired. MP Richardson said he wants the Minister to further explain to him how he intends to cut salaries by 5.2 million guilders. Richardson pointed out a number of areas where government used the same figures and wants to know if this is not a dangerous precedence government is setting.
He asked the Minister of Finance to provide parliament with the measures they are taking to stimulate the economy. He said based on the draft budget presented to parliament they did not state how they intend to pay off their old debts as well as their creditors. He asked the Minister to provide parliament with the documentation they have that states that SZV will no longer need subsidy from government. He asked for the amount of persons holding lottery licenses on the island and how many of those licenses were issued. MP Richardson asked for the legislation that will permit government to charge fees for residence permits as stated in the draft budget. He asked for an explanation on the debt figures that the budget states stand at two million guilders. Richardson also asked for an explanation on the 35 million guilders that the St. Maarten Medical Center owes its creditors. MP Richardson said he has no problem assisting SMMC but that hospital operates as a foundation that no one can get their hands on and moreover he is not in favor of assisting SMMC when it is governed by someone that is residing in Curacao.
When the meeting resumed Monday afternoon, Member of Parliament Romaine Laville chaired the meeting since some MPs left to attend a funeral when the meeting adjourned. Member of Parliament Dr. Lloyd Richardson told the Minister of Finance that this is the third budget within the past nine months. MP Richardson said St. Maarten was instructed to make cuts in the budget. Despite that he has concerns as to how the cuts will affect the country. He said in some parts of the budget there are some large increases. He gave examples such as increases for cars and asked if this could not be postponed. Another concern from MP Lloyd Richardson, a doctor by profession, was the decision by government to cut the premiums for family members to SZV. He asked if government is prepared for legal actions because such decisions were taken in the past but that left SZV with huge debts. He said everyone knows the situation at the St. Maarten Medical Center but if the institution starts serving Saba and Statia properly that would increase their revenues.
Member of Parliament William Marlin in his presentation said he could not peruse the draft budget properly which he received by email. However, he managed to go through the hard copy on Monday morning. He said he noticed that the government took a decision to cut salaries. Marlin said he wants to know if the salary cut would only be for Ministers or if civil servants in other sectors would see cuts in their salaries too. Marlin said he believes the Minister of Finance knows that the salaries of MPs are set by law and government just cannot increase or decrease the salaries of MPs and Ministers. Marlin said he strongly believes that there is an ordinance in place on the regulation of these salaries. Marlin asked if the change of salaries requires a change of law, if so he wants to know how soon this would be in place because just recently the CFT informed government that if there is no legislation in place to do certain things then it cannot be in the budget. He said what government is trying to show the people of St. Maarten is that they are taking from the rich to give to the poor.
Marlin asked the Minister of Finance to tell parliament exactly how this will be done. He gave an example on how the tax system works depending on one's salary. Therefore, he asked the Minister to tell Parliament exactly how much monies the (Ministers) will be taking home after the cuts in their salaries, "I want to know exactly how this will work." Marlin also questioned the short term labor contract which he said is being abused by the private sector. Marlin further asked the Minister to tell parliament how many people are working for government. He said he noticed in the budget there are monies allocated for temporary workers. He said he wants to know how many persons have short term contracts and are working for government. He said there are people that are on their third or fourth contracts with government. Marlin asked for a complete report on the amount of persons working for government and exactly how many are on short term contracts. Marlin said it would be hypocritical for government to smack the short term contract and here it is that government is doing just what parliament is trying to curb.
The leader of the National Alliance and Member of Parliament also addressed the debt relief that was agreed upon with the Dutch Government. He said that process was hindered because certain accountants did not want to deliver certain documents. He said the previous government had agreed to take the Dutch Government to court on the issue of the debt relief. He said he wants to know if this current government shelved the plans to take the Dutch Government to court and if it was then he wants to know what approach government is taking and what they hope to achieve.
Marlin said parliament's budget shows "representation cost" 2013 was Naf. 30,000. But in this budget 2014 they budgeted Naf. 200,000. 00 for representation cost. Marlin said this is an increase by Naf. 170,000.00 which he believes needs an explanation. Marlin said that the budget of parliament had budgeted Naf. 20,000.00 for 2013, this year 2014 government budgeted Naf. 152,000.00. He said in 2013 Naf. 0 was budgeted for overtime but in this draft budget there is Naf. 10,000.00. Marlin asked what work there is that created so much over-time pay.