Duncan disappointed
in Sarah’s reaction
PHILIPSBURG--St. Maarten’s government is not doing what it is supposed to be doing, it’s not trustworthy and lacks integrity. “That’s what Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende bluntly stated,” Constitutional Affairs Minister Roland Duncan told The Daily Herald Thursday
He was commenting on Balkenende’s visit to St. Maarten on Tuesday and the reaction of the Executive Council to the Dutch PM’s visit. Duncan said he was disappointed in Constitutional Affairs Commissioner Sarah Wescot-Williams’ reaction.
“Trying to win the people’s sympathy will lead you nowhere. The way things are going right now St. Maarten will not attain country status by 2025.”
Statements indicating that St. Maarten has been too cooperative, and hiding behind the Central Government’s neglect won’t work, according to the Minister.
“That the Central Government has been neglectful we already know. That’s why we are breaking up the Netherlands Antilles, but St. Maarten is not doing anything on any front about its own responsibility. The only thing you hear is the same rhetoric.”
Duncan said he had also complained in the past about St. Maarten not doing enough. “I was told that I was lobbying for a job. I want to know now what Balkenende is lobbying for.”
Duncan believes that if St. Maarten does not change its approach, the Netherlands will take additional measures. What measures, he could not say.
“I don’t know if it will be a measure of higher supervision of the Kingdom or any other measure,” Duncan said.
