Current political situation - May 15, 2013
- may 15, 2013
Harbour View – His Excellency the Governor of Sint Maarten, drs. E.B. Holiday has been carefully monitoring the current political situation developed as a result of the decision of three members of Parliament, the DP fraction members, Mr. Roy Marlin and Mr. Leroy De Weever and independent member Mr. Romaine Laville withdrawing their support from the current NA/DP/I-3 coalition by letter of May 6, 2013 and the declaration of eight (8) members of Parliament, comprised of five (5) members of the UP fraction and the three (3) abovementioned members, expressing their willingness to form a new government, on the one hand, and the position taken by four (4) ministers in the council of ministers that Parliament should be dissolved and new elections called, on the other hand.
Immediately following the meeting held by the eight (8) members of Parliament from the fractions of the UP, DP and independent member Mr. Laville on Monday May 13, 2013, Governor Holiday met with the Chairman of Parliament drs. R. Samuel and received an outline of the proceedings leading up to the meeting held by the eight members of Parliament. The Governor subsequently met with and discussed the developments with Prime Minister, Mrs. Wescot-Williams.
On same date Governor Holiday on request of member of Parliament Mr. Roy Marlin met him, and members of Parliament, Mr. R. Laville, Mrs. S. Meyers-Olivacce and Mrs. G. Arrindell. During the meeting the Governor also received an outline of the proceedings leading up to the meeting and was presented with various documents including the motion of no confidence accepted in the meeting which declares that effective immediately the Ministers Marlin, Jacobs, Pantophlet and Tuitt no longer enjoy the confidence of Parliament.
Later that afternoon Governor Holiday met with the Vice Prime Minister and was presented with a draft resolution to dissolve Parliament and call new elections.
On Tuesday May 14, 2013 Governor Holiday received a letter from the Chairman of Parliament containing a chronological report of occurrences leading up to the events of Monday, May 13, 2013, and stating that the meeting held by the eight members of Parliament is not an official meeting.
In addition Governor Holiday also received a letter on May 14, 2013 from the eight members of Parliament requesting that he ensures that the four (4) ministers mentioned in their motion do not take measures that could compromise the Government and/or Parliament of Country St. Maarten as well as expressing that they do not agree with attempts to dissolve Parliament.
Following a review of the documentation received and discussions held on Monday with the Vice Chairlady of the Council of Advice, on Tuesday with the Vice Prime-minister and today Wednesday May 15, 2013, with the four members of Parliament that presented the motion passed in the meeting held by the eight members of Parliament, the Chairman of Parliament and the Prime-Minister, Governor Holiday is herewith appealing to all stakeholders to do all that is necessary to maintain and protect the integrity of our constitutional democracy and to foster actions in keeping with our constitution based on the rule of law.