Philipsburg: --- Leader of the National Alliance William Marlin on Sunday introduced another new candidate who will be contesting the September 17 country elections. Marlin said when he first approached Dr. Lloyd Richardson some years ago he asked him if he was crazy, but this time around he neither the other members of the National Alliance did not have much talking to do because Dr. Richardson is ready to serve the people of St. Maarten in another capacity. Dr. Richardson is the doctor for the Social Insurance Bank since March 1981. Dr. Richardson in his address discussed some of the difficulties the Turning Point Foundation, an institution founded by him to provide proper care to drug addicts are having with financial and other assistance and the amount of letters he wrote to those that were in government. While the foundation he said was able to restore many young person's there are much more he said that still have to be saved from the destruction of drugs. Dr. Richardson spoke of the inconvenience drug addicts had in the past when they were sent off island for treatment. He said while he worked with others effortlessly to build the center which was opened in 1997 the institution is still not where they had intended to take it. Dr. Richardson said he is willing to continue the fight for equality for these patients but this time he wants to do it with authority. Richardson said he would like to be the one to sign the releases and to take care of the direction of the monies so that it can be directed to people that are suffering in society. He said the young people of St. Maarten are angry and one has to be very careful of how they speak to the younger generation today because they feel marginalized and not part of society, reasons why these persons have to be brought back into the fold.
Dr. Richardson said St. Maarten is at the crossroad of change and while many have said St. Maarten is not ready. He said St. Maarten is not incompetent but some of the experiences will be new and the island has people who are capable and as a candidate on the National Alliance slate he is calling on the entire community to behave as adults and start to assume their share of responsibility of the country and take it to higher heights. He said St. Maarten is a blessed compared to some of the Caribbean nations and if nothing is done with the blessings the island has then the hard days would surely come.
Dr. Richardson spoke of the amount of times he times he was ridiculed and many thought he was showing interest for political intentions, however, he said he did so for 20 years prior to entering into politics. The doctor said all the political parties on St. Maarten approached him to join their ranks but he chose to join a political party that has GOD in its rightful place, and one that supports integrity and honesty. He said he also chose the National Alliance because he realized that the NA leader and members chose the people before their pockets and have dedicated themselves to serve the people of St. Maarten.
Dr. Richardson also highlighted some of the major issues the Social Insurance Bank and the St. Maarten Medical Center are having with transferring patients overseas for medical attention. He said right now when Curacao is called they are constantly refusing to take the patients, forcing St. Maarten to turn elsewhere. He said while not criticizing the BZV or FZOG, their services were not what it should have been for the Windward Islands.
The new candidate also spoke of the amount of monies St. Maarten is sending to Curacao annually so that they could support their budget.
Dr. Richardson said the island has enough people who are qualified to take care of their own business and to demand proper medical services when they would be paying for it and most importantly when the island has more options. He said the island has no intention of abandoning the relationship with the rest of the Antilles with whom they have worked for centuries, but this time St. Maarten would be able to approach them as equals, asking them for services at a particular price while demanding that the island is served well because St. Maarten now has alternatives.
Apart from being a doctor he was on several assignments related to health, sports and student care. He was also chairman of the taskforce for the Adventist School, and instrumental in building the HWEY (Health, Welfare, Education and Youth) building.
