~ Then declines to travel a second time ~

PHILIPSBURG--Democratic Party (DP) leader Sarah Wescot-Williams, who had cancelled her confirmed seat to travel with the St. Maarten delegation to the Netherlands for the consideration of the Consensus Kingdom Laws by the Dutch Parliament, reportedly made a last-minute attempt to join the team.

However, according to reliable information reaching The Daily Herald, her last-minute attempt was made even though it had been clear that there were no available seats between April 4 – the date of her original flight – and the start of the sessions in The Hague.

Wescot-Williams initially had informed Constitutional Affairs Project Director Dennis Richardson that she would not be able to travel to the Netherlands "at the proposed time." However, a ticket was still secured for her to travel on Sunday, April 4. Another delegation member also had been booked to travel that day.

She reportedly was sent the electronic ticket on April 1, but requested that authorities cancel her bookings on the same date she was scheduled to travel.

The Island Councilwoman and former constitutional affairs commissioner, who had been accused in the past of not supporting the constitutional change process since going into opposition, could not be reached for comment on her absence from the important discussions currently taking place in Holland.

It could not be ascertained whether penalties would be levied on the Island Government as a result of the original flight cancellation. A "no show" fee is usually assessed for flights not cancelled in a timely manner.

The DP leader reportedly enquired about rebooking travel arrangements several days after requesting that her original flight be cancelled. She indicated at the time that she had received the itinerary from the media.

However, after frantic efforts by the authorities to make travel arrangements for the second time, Wescot-Williams reportedly declined to travel, as the time she would have in the Netherlands for the meetings would be too short, as confirmed seats were only available April 13-16. She reportedly had expressed concerns about her original return date to St. Maarten several days after the debate on the Consensus Kingdom Laws was to be completed.

The St. Maarten delegation is expected to return to St. Maarten on Sunday, April 18.

Project Director Richardson reportedly had informed the St. Maarten delegation members that, as a matter of precaution, several days after the scheduled handling of laws would be booked into their travel in case they were needed for any eventuality.

Wescot-Williams reportedly had complained about not being aware of her role in The Hague and not being apprised of details of the meetings there.

She refused to sit at the head table with the St. Maarten delegation during the Kingdom Political Steering Group meeting at The Westin St. Maarten Dawn Beach Resort and Spain in December, and left the meeting several hours before it ended around 3:00am the following day.

Constitutional Affairs Commissioner William Marlin, who heads the local delegation that includes top advisers Eugene Holiday and Richard Gibson, Sr., has been directly involved in the debate in the Dutch Parliament's Second Chamber.

The Netherlands Antilles parliamentary delegation, headed by President of Parliament Pedro Atacho (PAR), also includes parliamentarians Rodolphe Samuel (National Alliance), Will Johnson (WIPM Saba), Reginald Zaandam (DP Statia), Ramonsito Booi (UPB Bonaire) and Glenn Sulvaran (PAR).

Curaçao's Constitutional Affairs Commissioner Zita Jesus-Leito, like Marlin, was invited as a special delegate of Parliament.

Prime Minister Emily de Jongh-Elhage and Constitutional Affairs Minister Roland Duncan are also in attendance.

Richardson was unable to join the delegation due to an accident at his home on Holy Thursday. He was flown to Colombia for treatment and while he has been released from hospital, he is still in Colombia and it will be a while before he is back on the job.

The second round of the debate starts today, Monday, at 10:00am Netherlands time (4:00am St. Maarten time). It will be aired live on St. Maarten Cable TV Channel 30.

The session will open with caretaker State Secretary Ank Bijleveld-Schouten answering questions posed by members of the Second Chamber. Dutch Members of Parliament and the Antillean special delegates will also address the meeting for the last time before the handling of the Consensus Kingdom Laws in a plenary session. The vote on the laws will take place on Thursday, April 15.