Philipsburg: --- Leader of the Democratic Party Sarah Wescot Williams said it is time independent member of the island council Theo Heyliger breaks his silence and let the people of St. Maarten know what he did for them while in government this past year.
Wescot Williams said at the Democratic Party press conference on Tuesday that Heyliger had said in the past that he had to remain in government for the sake of the people last year June, thus he left the Democratic Party and formed a coalition with the National Alliance. "He could not afford not to be part of government because it was all about St Maarten and the people." Wescot Williams said during the month of June 2009 they heard many promises from Heyliger and his coalition partners. She recalled the statements on June 8th when the National Alliance/ Heyliger government said they were working on a governing program that had an action plan of projects and programs where priorities were going to be established.
The coalition promised to put priority on housing, the allotment of the Hope Estate apartments, and the environmental fee where they said they were working on the final legal touches. This coalition also promised that they would purchase of the Emilio Wilson estate while they would work on the crisis in education and the environment.
She said with respect to the resignation of Heyliger who would remain commissioner until his successor is appointed. She said reporters contacted her on Monday to comment on the resignation of Heyliger but she does not believe it is the place of the Democratic Party to say more instead the commissioner has to now give account of his stewardship from June 2009 to July 2010. "Remember Heyliger was not just a commissioner in the coalition he was also deputy leader of government for more than a year and he is now called to give account of his stewardship of the people's business." Wescot Williams said.
The leader of the Democratic Party said the people also needs to hear from the coalition partner the National Alliance as to what the resignation would mean for government.
Wescot Williams said although the resignation of Heyliger was rumored for sometime she said coincidentally in the elucidation to the change to the electoral law in the central committee meeting government mentioned that they are preparing an ordinance to expand the executive council by adding two more commissioners. She said the Democratic Party asked government if they intended to appoint two other commissioners. Wescot Williams said they are faced with an interesting situation because at any time they could see a proposal to expand the council as well as to appoint not one but three commissioners.