~I intend to keep an eye on the Council of Ministers from Parliament~
PHILIPSBURG: --- Incumbent Minister of Justice Lyndon Lewis said on Wednesday at the Council of Ministers press conference in response to questions from reporters that he was not involved in any of the discussions surrounding the formation of the new government.
Lewis said that he would have been consulted since he was part of the current coalition that took office some four months ago. He said that the only person who called him was the leader of the United People's Party, Omar Ottley. He said he heard that the political leaders forming the incoming coalition chose to leave him out because they claimed that he was around the UP political party.
Lewis further stated that he has heard that the political leaders have said that he did not declare himself as an independent member of parliament and he does not know what that has to do with the formation of government.
The Minister also said that the Prime Minister is also saying that his attendance at the COM meetings is not good, which is another reason for his being left out. He admitted that he did not attend all the COM meetings, but he is one of those ministers who hit the ground running. He was busy working for the people of St. Maarten, and those people showed their gratitude for how they voted in the August 19th snap election. Lewis said that he did not spend one dollar to buy votes. He said his hard work for the four months in the office paid off.
The Minister of Justice, also a member of parliament elect, vowed to continue working for the people of St. Maarten from wherever he is. The government will have a problem with this elected member of parliament if their work is not fruitful; he assured them there will be another election, and the political party that places anyone in the Ministry of Justice who does not perform will kill their political career. " I will be looking at the Minister of VROMI, TEATT, ECYS, VSA, and even the Prime Minister in charge of General Affairs.
He said the incoming Minister of Justice should be prepared because he would examine what will happen in the justice ministry more closely. The justice workers wanted him there, but since that is impossible, he will serve them from his seat in parliament.
Member of Parliament elect Lyndon Lewis clarified that he would monitor the entire Council of Ministers to ensure they serve the people of St. Maarten. He said this also applies to the Prime Minister in charge of General Affairs. He also made it clear that if the Council of Ministers that left him out of this government performs well, he will also support them from his seat in parliament because, for him, it is not personal. Lewis clarified that he does not play politics with the people's lives.
When asked if he was hurt by being left out of the discussions, Lewis said he was not but was annoyed with the disrespect his colleagues in the Council of Ministers showed him. He said he didn't pay one dollar for votes, neither did he campaign heavily; his work while in office did it for him, something he also told his colleagues that if they worked, their votes would surpass any other person that was outside trying to get in. Lewis said that dirty politics are being played.
