PHILIPSBURG:--- Reliable information reaching SMN News states that members of the RST visited the House of Parliament on Thursday where they took a statement from Member of Parliament Christopher Emmanuel regarding the statements he made on the floor of Parliament on Monday during a public meeting. When contacted Emmanuel said that he did get a visit from members of the RST but he said he will not divulge any information as to what transpired in that meeting on Thursday.
SMN News contacted Acting Chief Prosecutor Karola van Nie for a statement on the visit paid by the RST to the Member of Parliament. Van Nie said at this point in time she will neither confirm nor deny the visit. "Right now I will not make any comment on that matter."
On Monday MP Emmanuel stated on the floor of parliament that a certain political party offered him $80,000.00 to run on their slate and in 2014 when he obtained a seat in Parliament he was offered $400,000.00 which climbed to $2M. MP Emmanuel did not say which politician or political parties made him the offers. He did say that St. Maarten has moved from buying votes to buying seats in Parliament.
This is not the first time a Member of Parliament has claimed they were offered huge sums of monies (bribery) by politicians. Former Member of Parliament Romain Laville filed a complaint against the leader of the United Peoples Party in 2013.
