Laveist denies being chastised
or blackmailed by his party
~ On Raphael Boasman affair ~
PHILIPSBURG--The “internal discussion” in the Democratic Party (DP) concerning interim head of the Labour Department Raphael Boasman should not be labelled as Commissioner Louie Laveist being chastised or blackmailed, nor was anybody lying. “There was a difference of opinion on how to go about changes within the Labour Department and I was advised by colleagues,” Laveist said during Monday’s Island Council meeting.
“I’ll do my best not to err in the future,” Laveist stated. The meeting was requested by the National Alliance (NA) political faction in the Island Council. The party was convinced that the Commissioner was obligated to bow down, accept all blame and move on.
NA leader William Marlin said a deal made several weeks ago to remove Boasman from office was connected to re-appointing Maria Buncamper-Molanus as Commissioner. He said it was wrong for the Executive Council to decide on the fate of an interim manager on a political deal.
Marlin made use of the opportunity to again show the many areas in which government was not dealing with matters in the interest of the people because the party was being run by Commissioners only looking out for their own personal interest.
Marlin: “The discussion of the deal reveals how government works: based on blackmail and deals, and not to the best interest of the people. The NA has said before that a house divided cannot rule.”
He said in addition that there was at least another “blatant liar” within the DP Government, referring to contradicting statements by Laveist and Commissioner Sarah Wescot-Williams on whether a deal had been made to remove Boasman.
“There was either a deal or there was no deal. If there was a deal one Commissioner is lying, and if there was no deal the other Commissioner is lying,” Marlin said.
He believed that if there was a problem with Boasman government should follow proper procedures to have him removed.
NA Councilman Frans Richardson referred to a popular TV show when he asked Laveist: “Deal or no deal?” The TV show is about making a deal or opening a briefcase which can contain an amount ranging from US $1 to $1,000,000. “Louie, I believe you have opened the briefcase with $1,” Richardson said.
He added: “I offer you an olive branch to come to a supporting family.” He believed a deal had been made and that was the reason Laveist had stayed away from the last Island Council meeting.
Laveist, giving his version of what had happened, said he had had a discussion with his colleagues that should be seen as a maturing process and coming up with solutions. He said the discussions had to do with the decentralisation of the Labour Department. In addition, he has to deal with finding a new mediator and to work out a comprehensive labour market plan.
“The problem was that information was not forthcoming and the restructuring of the Labour Department was taking already a long time.” Other matters such as safety on the job as required by the International Labour Department were also on the agenda to be handled with.
“The crux of the matter,” as the Commissioner said, was how to deal with the evaluation of the interim had pertaining to all these matters.
“We may have had a difference of opinion on how to go about the evaluation and there the crux of the matter lies. The Labour Department for years is being run by an interim head. The time, in my opinion, has come that a permanent department head should be sought.” In this regard Laveist said he wanted an evaluation done to see if Boasman had carried out his tasks. “I stand accused if this wasn’t properly presented,” Laveist said.
After the Commissioner’s statement Richardson said he believed Laveist should have made his statement a long time ago and advised the Commissioner to look into serious labour issues on the island such as the abuse of contracts for workers taking place at The Westin St. Maarten Dawn Beach Resort and Spa.
