PHILIPSBURG:--- Leader of the National Alliance William Marlin and the other Members of Parliament from the National Alliance faction called a press conference on Monday to inform their supporters that Cedric James has been appointed Interim President of the board of the National Alliance and his task is to fill in the vacant seats on the board and prepare for the 2014 parliamentary elections. In his short address James said that he was part of the SPM, SPA, and NA but he never took the forefront because his late brother Vance James Jr. was very active in the political arena. James further stated that there is a need for strong, secure, and dedicated people to be part of the National Alliance since strength is within and not without.
The National Alliance leader William Marlin also made some clarifications on Monday when he said that days after the 2010 elections elected members of the National Alliance slate sold their seat to the highest bidder when the party that secured seven seats in Parliament was left out of the first SWW1 cabinet. Clearly Marlin was referring to Member of Parliament Patrick Illidge who is now in police detention in the ORCA investigation. He said from the inception the leaders of the United People's Party and Democratic Party aimed to divide and destroy the National Alliance who beat them in 2006 and 2010. Marlin also explained how much he did for MP Illidge even when he was not elected by the people. He said he appointed Illidge in the Parliament of the Central Government, the Island Council and when he got elected for the first time he sold his seat to the highest bidder. "What you see happening now with the defectors is a strategy orchestrated by the UP leader to say that the National Alliance is a sinking ship. But I assure you that the National Alliance ship is not sinking and surely it is not sitting at the harbor to rot." Marlin said some people seems to forget that the leader of the UP is still to be investigated for the famous vote buying case, the allegations of offering a bribe to MP Romaine Laville and also some people seems to forget that the two suspects in the Bada Bing "ORCA" investigation said that it was the leader of the UP that orchestrated the taping in order to blackmail Patrick Illidge. Marlin further explained that what is taking place today is an effort to distract people from the events surrounding the UP leader. He said that the peoples' monies were used for the opening of the Causeway which was to kick off the UP election campaign.
When asked about the most recent ship jumper MP Dr. Lloyd Richardson, Marlin said that MP Richardson attended all of the meetings held by the National Alliance and each time he gave the members his word that he was not going anywhere. Marlin said once MP Richardson told them that while he had no intention to go anywhere he did state that he was speaking to other people. He said when the "DOC" made that statement former Minister of Education Silveria Jacobs asked him to further explain why he was talking to other political parties if he is committed to the National Alliance. Marlin said it was from that moment he had doubts and while they agreed to send out a joint press release he held back because he was not too sure about MP Richardson. He said he met with the MP on Thursday at Turning Point and once for before that with former chairman of Parliament Rodolphe Samuel. Marlin said MP Lloyd Richardson called him on Friday afternoon and informed him that he had bad news for him because after consulting with his family he decided to declare himself an Independent Member of Parliament and he will cross the isle to support the UP Party.
Marlin said this Sunday the National Alliance will be holding a get together at the Westin Hotel and persons that are interested in participating should contact him or any other member of the National Alliance because a shuttle will be available to take people who do not have transportation to Westin.
Another issue Marlin raised and promised to elaborate on are the statements made by the leader of the UPP during the budget debate when he accused former Minister of Finance Roland Tuitt of embezzling 50 million guilders.
