Philipsburg:--- The leader of the National Alliance William Marlin took a swing at the coalition government who still has not presented Parliament with their governing program. Marlin made the statements on Monday during the special ceremony held for the closing of the first year of parliament. Marlin said eleven years ago the people voted for St. Maarten to become a country within the Kingdom which would have brought about changes for the people. Marlin said the people thought that becoming a country within the Kingdom would have cut out the bureaucracy between Curacao and St. Maarten. Marlin also reminded the chairlady of Parliament Gracita Arrindell about her days in the Island Council when she called on Government to stop using government owned companies as their personal "piggy bank" to execute their pet projects. Marlin said when they negotiated the change of status agreements were made for St. Maarten to have good corporate governance and it is sad to see members of parliament and members of government criticizing the institutions that has to take stock on St. Maarten and to ensure they maintain good corporate governance.These institutions are not given the tools to execute their duties and this is not what the people expect from country St. Maarten. He said politicians can talk and make promises but their actions speak louder than their voices. He said right now it's business as usual and St. Maarten is back to the politics of yesteryear. Marlin said it is almost a year now since the first government of country St. Maarten was sworn in. He said the coalition government made several promises to the people and to date that coalition has not presented their governing program. Marlin said there has been a drastic increase in turn over tax and cost of living has increased tremendously on St. Maarten. Marlin said that the oil prices are dropping worldwide but on St. Maarten gasoline and cooking gas prices are skyrocketing and is continuing to rise while electricity bills are also skyrocketing. He reminded the Members of Parliament of the motion they all cosigned to force GEBE to sit with government and to reduce the fuel clause by 50%. Marlin said the Members of Parliament chose not to represent the people of St. Maarten but they chose to follow instructions from those who said that the motion was not in their political interest. Marlin said crime has been on the increase with several murders, while there is a newspaper advertisement saying Cash for GOLD. He said since then gold snatching has increased and government has done nothing. People he said are being targeted even when they are in their vehicles. The people he said has lost confidence and are no longer reporting these crimes. He said two weeks ago his faction requested a central committee meeting where they want to hear from the Minister of Justice and Minister of Labour and Social Affairs. He said the public needs to know what government is doing concerning the spate of crime on St. Maarten. Marlin called on government to move from the politics of yesteryear and to begin moving St. Maarten forward.
Raising some of the same concerns about crime was Independent Member of Parliament Patrick Illidge and faction leader of the United People's Party Romain La Ville.
La Ville in his presentation said St. Maarten did not have the opportunity to start off on the right foot and that the coalition government started with the cards they were dealt and that Members of Parliament should be more concerned about what is taking place on St. Maarten. La Ville said the 15 MP's were charged to represent the people a year ago and they should now wonder if the people are rejoicing or if they are mourning. La Ville said crime has gone through the roof and people are now fearful of walking the public roads.
During the short ceremony, the President of Parliament also presented copies of the first year report which she said has to be amended to add the addendum. The President of Parliament said today they are much stronger and wiser to accomplish the tasks ahead of them. She said she was criticized but managed to rise above it and execute her duties as a strong black woman.
