Marigot:--- Territorial Councillor Jean David Richardson has issued a call to the people of St. Martin to rise up and take control of their affairs. Richardson who is obviously enraged at the current development where the president took away the portfolios of the vice presidents Tuesday night said the President has no regard for the elected body of the council. Richardson called the actions of President Gumbs dictatorship since he has no respect for the other members of the council, and acts only to further his own interests.Richardson said while the majority has sixteen elected members but only five of those elected are making the decisions for the council. The territorial councillor said he wants the senator and president to remember the procedure they used to remove Marthe Ogoundele Tessi. He said he wants to know why that same procedure could not be used to remove Daniel Gibbs. Richardson said those deciding for St. Martin are enriching themselves since they are giving monies to people who are not doing anything for St. Martin and its people.
Richardson said the UPP group had a project that they all agreed to work on during their mandate, but three years have passed and most of the councillors have to no say on how the affairs of the people are conducted.
Jean David Richardson said those elected officials that are saying that they know about the Front de Mer project are liars. He said there were three projects that were presented to the council after a study was conducted. Richardson said the intention was to further develop the port of Galisbay to safeguard the economy on the French side of the island.
Richardson said the French side has to begin developing the commercial port to safeguard the economy on this side of the island.
Responding to the recent developments in the Collectivity of St. Martin, territorial councillor Guillaume Arnell said it is not beneficial to the people of St. Martin. Arnell said the motion on Tuesday night to take away all the portfolios from the sitting vice presidents was possible through the amendments done to the organic law in 2009. Arnell said the opposition warned the majority about the possibilities of giving the president "super power" where he would be able to give out responsibility by delegation. Arnell said this was not possible prior to the modification of the organic law, nevertheless the majority voted for it. Arnell said at this moment he is still trying to analyse what has happened because during the last territorial council meeting the president indicated that the time for battling should seize and the council should focus on what is essential. "Stripping the vice president of his responsibilities is an indication that the trust and confidence no longer exists."Arnell said the work must be done on St. Martin and he wants to know who will now get these portfolios. "I want to know if they are going to give them to people who refrain from having responsibilities since there is only one vice president who does not have portfolios. My other question is would this person take up his responsibilities to the highest expectation?"
Arnell said St. Martin is stepping backwards with the current situation and a true leader would have called in his people and brought them to order. He said taking away ones portfolios is not a good image for St. Martin.
As for the Front de Mer project the first vice president Daniel Gibbs was promoting with the JUTRAS group Arnell said that while he does not have information on the group that was interested in investing. However, the French legislations made provisions for investors to justify their funding, but since the investors are Canadian then the process is somewhat different. Arnell said those people were acting like all other investors who have monies to place which will be to their own interest. As for the project he said the French side needs some investments but they must come with consultation and their proposal must be in dimension of the island.
State Must Investigate --- Mussington.
In the meantime, territorial councillor Louis Mussington said he does not believe this is the appropriate time for the majority to take decision against a particular person since it is not feasible. Mussington said there was also a plot among the majority to remove the president from his position. Mussington said the ruling party still has eighteen months in office and he felt that there is still enough time for politicians to campaign for the 2012 election. The territorial councillor said the island is in a crisis stage and he believes that now more than ever political leaders have pull their resources together and work in the best interest of the people. He said internal fighting takes away ones attention from the work they are supposed to be doing for their country. "Right now the island is facing economic, social and educational problems and he felt elected officials should place their energy in finding solutions to these problems."Asked if he did any research on the JUTRAS group Mussington said he did not personally conduct any research but he is aware of a report that was published in Guadeloupe. Mussington said based on these reports it appears as if this group is not trustworthy and the funds they want to invest is allegedly not clean.
Mussington said he believes that the State must investigate all that is going on St. Martin through the "control de la legality". However, the State cannot step in unless there is a clear decision from the Collectivity. The territorial councillor said he asked on a number of occasions for this matter be brought on the floor of the council for a debate. He said it is clear that the State will not make investments on the island and if there are investors that are willing to invest then the COM must look at what they are offering and the origin of their funds.
VP Gibbs should do the honourable thing and resign --- Fleming.
Responding to questions posed by SMN News Senator Louie Constant Fleming said he does not know if the motion that was presented was on agenda of the Tuesday's meeting. However, he felt the procedure was normal since one cannot have someone who is holding important portfolios and at the same time campaigning against the president of the Collectivity. Fleming said the vice president was even part of a circle of people who are not from St. Martin who are trying to gather signatures to bring a motion of no confidence against the president.Fleming said Daniel Gibb's behaviour is totally absurd and out of place and no one can tolerate people who come to the island and is taking its people for granted. He said Daniel Gibbs should be a man and resign and give up his portfolios. He said Gibbs can remain a territorial councillor but if he is going to campaign against the UPP group then he should give up his portfolios.
The senator said while he was in Paris trying to get the French Government to advance St. Martin at least eight million Euros so that the COM can meet its obligation there are people here trying to intoxicate the people of St. Martin with their two billion Euros project.
Fleming made clear that he is not against development on the French side but whatever development comes to the island must be to the benefit of the island's people. Fleming said the people of St. Martin deserve to have proper employment and not just "roommate jobs."
Fleming also made clear that the French side will not be competing with the Dutch side as they are not going to be building an international airport or a deep water port.
The objective he said is for the French side to buy shares on the Dutch side. Furthermore, the French side cannot have a deep water pier. He said he is in possession of a study that was done years ago which clearly shows that the only area that can accommodate a deep water pier is Pointe Blanche. The senator said based on this report Marigot Bay does not have sand instead it has coral.
Fleming said there are persons who filed complaint of treason against him and Marcel Gumbs simply because he met with Minister Theo Heyliger. Fleming said while he does not know who filed these complaints he knows that letters were sent to the Minister of Justice and the president of the senate.
SMN News urges readers to take the time out and listen to the interviews conducted on this issue.
