PHILIPSBURG: --- Minister of VROMI Egbert Jurendy Doran in response to questions posed by the media on Wednesday at the Council of Minister's press briefing regarding the statements made in a secret recording of the chairman of parliament said that he is of the opinion that the matter is an internal matter of the United Peoples Party (UPP). Asked what his opinion on the statements that implicated him as the Minister of VROMI, Doran said while he worked with the Chairman of Parliament Rolando Brison dating back to 2018, he said they both have learned from each other while not agreeing on everything. Doran said he has disagreed on several points in the past, however regarding the statements on “deals,” the Minister made clear that he has no deal with the chair of parliament or no other members of parliament. However, he made clear that MP Rolando Brison has said on several occasions but privately and publicly on radios and interviews that he has one deal with the governing coalition which is to keep this government for the full 4-year term.
Regarding the statements on permits, Doran said that he had no discussion, agreement, or deal with the MP, and as such he cannot speak for the MP on that matter. Doran said if anyone listens carefully to the leaked audio when the MP spoke about deals the tape was cut short. He said that MP Brison has made statements even in their group chats where he said that “we have a deal as the young boys to keep the coalition together for the next 4 years.” He said whoever edited the tape should have allowed the MP to end his statement. Doran made clear that he was not in the room or part of the conversations when the secret recordings were made but said he is of the opinion that is what the chair of parliament was referring to.
The Minister of VROMI said he is hopeful that the United Peoples Party would be able to solve their issues amicably since there are no houses without issues and he believed that “he who is without sin should cast the first stone”. Doran said he personally made mistakes in the past like everyone else, however, he is looking forward to seeing St. Maarten Parliament will focus on the issues that are affecting the country. Doran referenced the fact that Curacao is busy celebrating one of their own while St. Maarten is busy discussing who should be the president of parliament. He said he strongly believes that elected officials should get back to what they have taken the oat for and sever the people of St. Maarten.
Minister of Finance Ardwell Irion said in response to the question said there is a deal in place which is the governing accord. Irion said that the chair of parliament has made statements publicly that he has a deal which is to keep this coalition government intact. “The only deal I know of outside of the governing accord is to keep this government for its full term.” The Minister of Finance said it's unfortunate that such a recording took place and subsequently leaked on social media. Irion said that recording was spliced up but acknowledged that in a moment of anger a lot of people said things, he said even the media persons present could attest to statements made before and after meetings of parliament by Members of Parliament, these statements he said the general public never gets to see or hear, yet they are made in parliament.
SMN News asked Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs if her government addressed the breach in national security with the secretly taped conversation that went viral. Jacobs said she does not have the recording however the leaked recording is not a government leak. She said it is the persons involved to follow up by having law enforcement investigate the motive and the persons who saw it necessary to execute such a job of recording MP Rolando Brison and having it leaked to social media.
The Prime Minister described the taped conversation as unfortunate she said there have been several discussions and conversations about the matter at hand and there is a serious feeling of contrition against the member of parliament. However, they are as strong as their weakest or strongest link. She said MP Brison has been a bridge for the two parties to work together and she felt that he can be forgiven for the statements he made because it is not something none of them has not done, the only difference is they were lucky that they were not recorded. Jacobs further explained that in a moment of anger and frustration because the job is filled with pressure. Jacobs said that she is hopeful that MP Brison will not be made a scapegoat. She said the allegations that are coming from persons that have made all sorts of statements and mockery on the floor of parliament while the conversation was recorded in private while it is an internal matter of the UP party.
Jacobs said that the things that have been said on the floor of parliament have not received this level of scrutiny, she has therefore called on all factions of parliament to raise the bar there because when statements are made on the floor of parliament it is also directed to the international community. Jacobs said there have been mudslinging and the bashing of women on the floor of parliament and it has been ignored by all factions in parliament. She said that all insults that have been against her as a female leader have considered those insults made at the office and not against her person as such this is a test towards after everyone.