Government and Supervisory Boards must respect Parliament and provide the answers necessary.
PHILIPSBURG:--- Member of Parliament and Leader of the Democratic Party Sarah Wescot Williams along with the President of the Democratic Party Board Emil Lee high-lighted several issues that they felt needs to be clarified.
Member of Parliament Sarah Wescot Williams said on Monday during a press conference that the "Counterpart Policy" used by MP Cornelius de Weever was not the reason why the number two candidate of the DP Faction broke the first coalition. She said there was a disagreement but refused to elaborate when asked by SMN News what was the real reason why MP Cornelius de Weever abandoned the first coalition on September 24th 2014.
MP Wescot Williams said that during the budget debate Parliament was told that the Counterpart policy will be introduced during the third quarter of 2015, but when she met with the Minister she was told that consultations have to take place. Wescot Williams said she want to know if the advice given by the SER will be considered and if main stakeholders such as the tripartite committee and other stakeholders will be consulted for their input during the consultations. President of the DP board Emil Lee said he wants to know if based on the advice of the SER and stakeholders if government will revamp the policy prior to introducing it while his party leader and Member of Parliament Sarah Wescot Williams questioned when exactly this policy will be introduced.
MP Sarah Wescot Williams also expressed concerns about the way Ministers and members of the supervisory boards respond to questions posed by Members of Parliament. Wescot Williams said that Parliament primary role is to question government and while Members of Parliament and Ministers have immunity while on the floor of Parliament she felt that those that are called to Parliament needs to provide the information Parliament is asking for. MP Wescot Williams gave an example that took place last week when GEBE was called to Parliament. She said Member of Parliament William Marlin asked about an MOU GEBE signed with someone unknown to Parliament for renewable energy. Wescot Williams said while she did not pose the question the response given by the management and supervisory board of GEBE is not at all acceptable. She said another MP intervened and asked GEBE to provide the information in writing which they quickly agreed to, however she made clear that whatever is sent to Parliament is public. When asked by SMN News if the way Ministers and members of the various supervisory board reacts to Parliament is something Members of Parliament created because most of the time MPs do not show up for work while they are receiving a full salary and in many cases when they do they are ill-prepared. MP Wescot Williams said that is an image that has to be changed because it's the role of Parliament to watch over government and its dealings.
President of the DP Board Emil Lee also stated that the Democratic Party was contacted by two key persons from the USA regarding the situation of timeshare on St. Maarten. He said the DP intend to meet with these people by the end of February because tourism is the country's main pillar. He shared the same sentiments with the Tourism Authority which is now dysfunctional. Lee said that St. Maarten do not have any representative in Europe to market the island and the contract for the USA will soon expire. He further stated that while government has asked the contractors to continue their jobs most of these persons were not paid for 2014 and none of that is reflected in the 2015 budget. Lee said one would expect that government would have listed its debts in the budget, but that was not done in this case. Lee said when the first coalition government was putting its governing accord together they did it with the budget they had in order to execute what is in the governing accord that is now on the shelves.
Other issues the DP faction raised was the development of the greater Simpson Bay area and Simpson Bay lagoon which government denied but Parliament discovered in the St. Maarten Harbor Group of Companies financials of 2013. Wescot Williams said that Parliament needs to be fully informed on the developments that the SMHGC intends to do in the Simpson Bay area. She also said that the DP faction need more information on the Doc Martin issue which is now in court. This company she said has a building permit that was issued by government yet there are court cases. President of the DP Board Emil Lee said while there is a financial statement for SMHGC which is a consolidated financial statement and he is of the opinion that the SMHGC should have separate financial statements for each of their companies. Lee also said he wants to know exactly what is the role of the SMHGC on the developments mentioned in their financial statement of 2013.
