Three NA members present didn't sign in
PHILIPSBURG--Thursday's Island Council meeting on the draft 2010 budget and the consequences of the island not having an approved budget did not proceed because only five Island Council members signed in, one member short of a quorum.
The meeting, requested by the opposition Democratic Party (DP), could have proceeded if at least one more of the eight Island Council members present in Dr. A.C. Wathey Legislative Hall had signed in. Six of the 11 members are needed to form a quorum.
Of these, National Alliance (NA) members Rodolphe Samuel, George Pantophlet and Commissioner Hyacinth Richardson did not sign in for the meeting to start at 10:00am or during the mandatory 30-minute wait after the start time had passed to provide a quorum.
DP members Sarah Wescot-Williams, Roy Marlin, Maria Buncamper-Molanus and Leroy de Weever signed in early for the meeting.
Deputy Leader of Government and independent Island Councilman Theo Heyliger added his signature to the attendance list shortly before the 30 minutes had expired, but this was not enough.
De Weever commended Heyliger for his "good spirit of cooperation" by signing in for the meeting. He added that Heyliger as deputy leader of government "was unable to convince the other members [of NA]" to do the same.
NA has "no regard" for Heyliger's opinion and continues to "crowd him out" even in the Central Committee, De Weever said.
Island Council Chairman Lt. Governor Franklyn Richards told the council members that the meeting couldn't go ahead, based on Article 13, Section II of the Rules of Order.
Richards then called out the names of all members "absent" – meaning not signed in. Hearing this announcement, Pantophlet left his seat and exited the hall. Richardson also left his seat. Only Samuel remained in his seat, but was mum when Richards called out his name as absent.
Leader of Government Commissioner William Marlin (NA) left for Tallahassee Thursday morning, but did not give notice to the Island Council. Neither did Commissioner Frans Richardson, who is in Germany.
Independent Island Council member Louie Laveist's whereabouts are unknown, as he has provided no notice of absence and has not attended any Island Council meeting this year. However, he attended a recent Central Committee meeting with the Committee for Financial Supervision CFT.
Another Island Council meeting on this topic will have to be called by Richards "as soon as possible." Should this one not have a quorum, a third one will be called and will be able to proceed with whatever members are present, even if they do not comprise a majority of the council members.
