PHILIPSBURG:--- Leader of the Democratic Party Sarah Wescot Williams and her party president Hasani Ellis told reporters on Sunday afternoon that they still do not know exactly why Minister Cornelius de Weever defected and why he signed an agreement with the seven members of the UPP. Wescot Williams said that when the three parties namely the NA/DP/USp decided to form the government the Minister indicated to them that he would like to continue as a Minister therefore the three political leaders granted him his wishes. She said last Tuesday afternoon she received an email from the Minister who indicated to her that he wanted to remain as an MP and not be a Minister, she said her response to the Minister was that was not a problem, however, the party would have to seek out who they will appoint as Minister of Labor, Health and Social Affairs. Wescot Williams said since then she has not heard from Minister de Weever even though she tried to make contact with him several times.
When it comes to the counterpart law that the Minister said is the sole cause for him to pull away and join the UPP, Wescot Williams said that for her is a moot point because in August 2014 the Minister of Labor presented a pilot project to the Council of Ministers to draft a policy to implement the counterpart law which is on the books, she said the Council of Ministers signed off on the Ministers request on August 12th, 2014.
When asked if she made a deal in Greece to form a government with the UPP as it is widely rumored on the island, Wescot Williams said she did not make any deals with the UPP leader and furthermore, the DP would not engage in two formation processes at the same time. When asked several times if the DP has ruled out, namely her forming a government with the UPP, Wescot Williams said that so far no one approached her but if and when they do she will have to see what they will tell or offer her.
Several reporters pressed Wescot Williams for direct answers as to whether she will join the UPP but the DP leader did not give a clear or precise answer to that. She did indicate that there has to be a reason why the governor decided to assign to informateurs whose job is to go out there and see if they could form a government. Wescot Williams said that was not the case when the NA/DP/USp presented their signed agreement to the governor three weeks ago. "I don't have the answer as to why the governor took that approach but I am sure he has a good reason for doing that."
It has also been widely rumored that while the three independents received all the blame over the last four years for the country's instability and change of governments, the breaking and forming of governments was initiated by a member of the Democratic Party thus allowing the Democratic Party to be part of the three governments formed from 2010 to 2014. When asked by SMN News if those rumors have any truth to it, Wescot Williams said that the Democratic Party got the blame for many things and while people are blaming the Democratic Party for lots of things they should also give the DP credit for the good things they have done over the years.
The President of the DP Board Hasani Ellis said that one of the things he would like to see happen during this governing period is an amendment to the electoral law which is causing the instability in government and allowing elected officials to do what they want after being elected on a slate. Ellis said that he hopes that the Parliament of St. Maarten will take the people's business serious and amend the electoral law. When asked if he as president of the DP board would agree for the party leader to join the UPP and Cornelius de Weever Government, Ellis said that they will not make any conclusions now until they see what is told and offered to them.
