Philipsburg:--- Member of Parliament Jules James has violated article 53 sub 1 and article 56 of the constitution of St. Maarten says Governor Eugene Holiday. Governor Holiday dispatched a letter to the Parliament of St. Maarten informing the chairlady of the violations while summoning the chairlady of Parliament Gracita Arrindell to his office to further discuss the matter. Reliable sources say that Arrindell met with Governor Holiday last week Wednesday while she only notified the Members of Parliament about the new devolpments on Friday.According to the letter sent by Governor Holiday, article 53 sub 1 of the country's constitution states that Members of Parliament must refrain from voting on motions in which they have an interest or acting as a proxy. While article 56 states that the Members of Parliament swore to uphold the constitution of St. Maarten.
Governor Holiday further states in his letter which was received by the Parliament of St. Maarten on Friday that one of the Members of Parliament (Jules James) voted on two motions while acting as a proxy for the Pelican Resort.
Governor Holiday was referring to the two motions that were presented on Thursday November 17th, 2011 when the Pelican Affair was discussed in Parliament. That meeting was requested by the National Alliance faction of Parliament. During the meeting, the National Alliance presented a motion regarding the roles Member of Parliament Jules James is playing while laying off 183 workers who worked for a number of years at the Pelican Resort. Member of Parliament Jules James who is also the General Manager of Simpson Bay Resort Management Company BV (SBRMC) and Royal Resorts Management Company Ltd (Former Pelican Resorts) wants to terminate the 183 permanent workers and replace them with short term contracts. MP James voted against the motion when it was tabled even though he promised several media personnel that he will never vote on issues regarding Pelican if it ever reaches the floor of Parliament.
The faction leader of the United Peoples Party Romaine La Ville also presented a motion during that meeting on behalf of his faction (UP Faction) when they could not agree with the motion presented by the National Alliance. Member of Parliament Jules James voted in favor of the motion to save his own skin but it appears it is now backfiring on him. However, neither of the motions passed because La Ville got emotional during the meeting and did not vote on either motion.
Sources within parliament said that the leader of the National Alliance William Marlin informed the President of Parliament Gracita Arrindell that her Member of Parliament (Jules James) violated the constitution and as such she should have a re-vote on the NA motion but Arrindell claimed that her legal advisors told her that Member of Parliament Jules James could have voted and that he did not break the law.
In the meantime, SMN News also learnt that the members of the United Peoples Party faction in Parliament are expressing disgust at their colleague Jules James. The source said the UP MP's are speaking out against MP James's actions and they feel that MP James needs to make an urgent decision as to how he will get out of the Pelican saga. "While Member of Parliament Jules James told us his back is strong he is dragging us down in the mud with the Pelican affair and we believe he should stop hiding and act," says one UP Member of Parliament.
Gracita Violating MP's Ordinance.
SMN News also learnt that at least two factions in Parliament confronted the Chairlady of Parliament Gracita Arrindell about her traveling spree without Parliament's approval.The source said there is an ordinance that governs the traveling of the Members of Parliament which states that Parliament must take a decision if the chairperson is going to represent Parliament overseas. "Whenever the chairperson is representing Parliament she is not speaking on her own behalf. Instead, she is representing the entire body and therefore the body has to agree if she will speak and what she would say if she does. It does not matter who invited the chairlady of parliament, she must get authorization from the body since the chairperson is also a member of parliament."
But according to the source, Arrindell has traveled on a number of occasions without seeking Parliament's approval. They said the Chairlady of Parliament went to Barbados, Aruba and Washington without the approval of the Parliament of St. Maarten. Furthermore, the issue was brought up when the factions learnt that Arrindell intends to represent the Parliament of Maarten in the Netherlands for Kingdom Day.
SMN News learnt that the factions are looking at how to tackle Arrindell with the violation of the ordinance.
Click here to view Governor Eugene Holiday's Letter to Parliament.