Philipsburg---Island Council Member Louie Laviest has sent yet another blow to the Democratic Party yesterday evening when he sent a letter of resignation to the Democratic Party. As predicted the present government of St. Maarten has now fallen and new government has to be put in place.In a statement to SMN News Laviest said "I have pulled my support from the present government, after reconstructing how this unfortunate matter pertaining to me, not withstanding this is nothing more but a plot to get me out and I can no longer support this government" he said in a telephone interview.
Furthermore, I have decided to give my full support to the National Alliance so that they can form a government in the best interest of the people of this island." The National Alliance now has my blessings and support to use as many persons from the present government (Democratic Party) to form a new government. "Considering the vested responsibility the people of St. Maarten has placed in me by electing me, I feel a sense of responsibility that the island and its people must not be placed in a category of non governance. Even though I am not a member of the National Alliance I am giving them 100% of my support so that they can put a government together." Laveist said.
Laveist said he is not looking for any administrative position in the new government but will be there when needs be to vote for the National Alliance. The island council man said he would be spending his time fighting hard to defend himself against all allegations and or court cases that may come up in the future.
Laveist said he did not meet with the Democratic Party over the weekend, to further elaborate what he meant by saying he was going independent.
The embattled former commissioner sent two letters to leader of government Sarah Wescot Williams on Friday informing her that he was going to be an in-active member of the executive council since he has been stripped of his portfolios. The other letter to the party leader was to let her know that he was going Independent.
Laveist openly spoke out some two weeks before his arrest on October 22. The commissioner had said that he was not receiving any type of cooperation from his colleagues in the executive council. He said the other members of the EXCO took a decision to empty his budget to fill in for scholarships without even informing. This of course he said hindered his performance when it comes to projects.Laveist also made public that he had a deal with the party to vote in favor of re-instating commissioner Maria Buncamper-Molanus to her position as commissioner. However, members of the executive council did not live up with the deal which was to remove head of the Social labor Affairs Rafael Boasman.
The commissioner spent some nine days in pre-trial detention as prosecutors question him on forgery. During his pre-trial detention the leader of government Sarah Wescot Williams visited the commissioner and told him to resign as an island and executive council member since that would be in keeping with the party's policies. The island leader also stripped Laveist of his portfolios and distributed them among the other sitting commissioners. In a press conference last Tuesday Laveist said the persons who asked him to resign has taken on the position of prosecutor, judge and jury and complying with those persons request would be self condemnation.
Laveist also urged everyone to refrain from judging him and wait on the outcome of the investigations and or possible trial since every man, woman and child is innocent until proven guilty.