Philipsburg:--- Minister of Home and Constitutional Affairs Roland Duncan decided to put all rumors to rest when he gave an on the record comment to SMN News on Sunday about the possibility of him being the Minister of Justice under the United People's Party and Democratic Party coalition.Duncan said he was approached by the UP party and while he was offered the position to serve as Minister of Justice he has not taken a final decision as yet. "I may take a decision ten minutes from now and I can tell you that I am considering the proposal favorably as I have always said I will serve my country to the best of my ability. However, I have one more week to serve in the Council of Ministers of the Netherlands Antilles and I would like to complete my job." Minister Duncan said on Sunday.
Duncan said he was not elected as a parliamentarian during the September 17th election and as such he has not jumped ship as is rumored on the island. "I do not have a parliamentary seat to discuss or negotiate and the positions of Minister, Advisor and Ambassadors are all appointed positions at the discretion of the government. Those that contacted me did so because they know that I am competent to hold the position they offered me."
SMN News also learnt that a part of the deal to support the UP/ DP government is that Duncan will be the shareholder representative for WINAIR, now that the new government of St. Maarten would be accepting St. Maarten's shares in WINAIR.
Asked if he already notified the party on which he ran. Duncan said he did not take a final decision and when an agreement is reached then he will do the honorable thing by notifying the board of the National Alliance.
Roland Duncan was appointed to serve St. Maarten by the National Alliance in the year 2006 as Minister of Home and Constitutional Affairs he served until 2010. He was re-appointed in January 2010 by the National Alliance after they won all three seats in Parliament.
SMN News has learnt that Minister of Telecommunication Patrick Illidge has also met with the United Peoples Party on Friday evening and has reached an agreement to support the UP/DP coalition. Sources say that Illidge will be going independent in parliament and he has reached an agreement with the UP leader to support them in parliament, which would leave the National Alliance with six seats.
SMN News tried contacting Illidge on several occasions on Sunday for a comment on the meeting and to confirm if he in fact jumped ship but Minister Illidge did not answer his telephone. In an invited comment Duncan said Minister Illidge is a good friend of his and someone he respects very much and whatever decision the Minister takes he will support him fully. SMN News further understands that National Alliance Ministers Patrick Illidge and Roland Duncan are working closely to support the UP/ DP government since Illidge is one of the seven candidates on the National Alliance slate that was elected to Parliament.
In an invited comment UP leader Theodore Heyliger confirmed that the United Peoples party and Patrick Illidge has signed an agreement to work in the best interest of St. Maarten. Heyliger did not release the contents of the agreement that was signed.
Below is a copy of the agreement between the United Party Leader Theo Heyliger and Patrick Illidge which was signed on Sunday October 3rd 2010.
