Philipsburg: ---- St. Maarten maybe in for some trouble as information is circulating on the island states the Democratic Party is about to fall since Commissioner Louis Laveist has given in his resignation an executive council member. Sources say Laviest has informed his party that he would be going independent since he is not happy with the way they treated him when he was arrested and questioned for forgery. "There is irreparable damage and that was the only thing the commissioner could have done which is the severed the relationship with the party under which he was elected.
Reliable sources say that the leader of the Democratic Party is confident that Laveist will be prosecuted since there is strong indication Laveist is involved in some sort fraud that is related to the new government building. The source said there are document that is stating that RGM is threatening to take the island government to court for payment. The source further explained that documents relating to the government building were forged to change figures which would benefit the commissioner. The contract with RGM stands at three million the source claimed.
SMN News also learnt RGM has been negotiating with the island government to get their monies in order for them to keep quiet. If that does not happen then RGM they said would let the "cat out of the bag" in relation to the new government building and the fish market.
Leader of Government Sarah Wescot Williams confirmed that she received two letters from the commissioner, one stating that he would be taking an in-active role in the executive council and the other one states that he would taking an independent position as an Island council member. Wescot Williams said that she has to further meet with the commissioner to get more clarity as to what he means when he said he is going independent.
The party leader said that Laviest did not state if he would not be supporting the party any longer and so she would need more explanations. "Because I don't have that information I cannot say what this would mean for the island government." Wescot Williams said that the commissioner did not say he was resigning from the executive council as reported.
Laveist has now become the most powerful member of the island council since both parties now have five seats. The commissioner can now bargain with the opposition if they are willing to accept him knowing the baggage's he carries. Pundits say the commissioner has been negotiating with the opposition ever since he was released last Thursday but that could not be confirmed.
SMN News could not make contact with the Commissioner neither his lawyer by phone up to press time.
