ExCo members move, will resign
~ Talks for new Govt ongoing ~
PHILIPSBURG--Commissioner Louie Laveist finally declared himself officially an independent member of the Island Council and “non-active” member of the Executive Council on Wednesday morning. This prompted Democratic Party (DP) leader Commissioner Sarah Wescot-Williams to officially announce the impending resignation of the members of the Executive Council.
In addition, Commissioners Maria Buncamper-Molanus and Wescot-Williams started to move documents out of their offices yesterday. A Public Works Department flatbed truck drove away laden with plastic bags containing documents and other items.
However, the negotiations for a new government are in full swing. Not only is National Alliance (NA) negotiating with DP members, but DP also has approached NA Island Councilmen offering them a commissioner’s seat, well-informed sources told The Daily Herald.
Wescot-Williams announced yesterday in a press release that the DP political faction had decided that the members of the Executive Council would tender their resignations, considering that Island Council member Louie Laveist had officially informed Lt. Governor Franklyn Richards yesterday morning of his decision to withdraw his support for the current Island Government.
Wescot-Williams said that before officially tendering the resignations a meeting would be held with the board of the Democratic Party on Wednesday evening, or Friday at the latest, to apprise the members of the latest developments. “Once the board is apprised the resignations of the Executive Council members will take place, at which time a press conference will be called to inform the people of St. Maarten about the party’s decision,” the release stated.
Wescot-Williams did not say exactly when this would be. However, this newspaper learnt that she, Commissioner Roy Marlin and members of the DP board had met at Chesterfield’s on Wednesday at 7:30pm. No word was immediately available about the outcome of that meeting.
Prime Minister Emily de Jongh-Elhage said in an invited comment Wednesday that she had been apprised of the latest development and that the constitutional change process was a point of concern for her. “We never have reached this far before in the process,” she said indicating that a change in government might have an impact on the negotiations with the Dutch Government.
However, she pointed out that DP and NA had always walked hand-in-hand in matters pertaining to the constitutional change process and a possible change in government should not affect the trajectory for status change.
“We have to see what an effect a change in face will have on the negotiations. That is, if there will be change,” the Prime Minister said.
Laveist handed over three letters to Lt. Governor Franklyn Richards at 9:00am on Wednesday. In the letters the Commissioner stated that with immediate effect he was taking a non-active position as a member of the Executive Council, that he had declared himself an independent member of the Island Council and that he had withdrawn his support from the current DP Government of St. Maarten.
In letters send to DP president Frank Arnell and DP leader Wescot-Williams, Laveist also made it known that with immediate effect he had resigned as a member of the DP.
Laveist had earlier announced that he would be supporting the National Alliance in the Island Council. He has thus left the DP without a majority in the Island Council.
Meanwhile, intense negotiations reportedly continued between Commissioner Theo Heyliger and NA leader William Marlin Wednesday, although Marlin had told some members of the press he had not been involved in any negotiations or discussions for a new government.
They were said to be trying to hammer out a new governing accord which should result in Heyliger remaining with all of his current portfolios, which include Harbour, Public Housing, Public Works and Simpson Bay Lagoon Authority Corporation. The latter had been overseen by Laveist before it was given to Heyliger on October 28 when Laveist was stripped of his portfolios during his nine-day detention when he was being interrogated by detectives on suspicion of forgery.
Reports reaching this newspaper Wednesday suggested that the governing accord would outline the portfolios of three NA commissioners, tipped to be Marlin, Frans Richardson and George Pantophlet. They will be joined by Heyliger and a yet-to-be-named commissioner who is likely to be the only woman in the Executive Council.
On the distribution of main portfolios, Marlin is expected to take up the hefty and important Constitutional Affairs, Richardson Economic Affairs and Tourism, and Pantophlet Health Affairs.
Heyliger’s resignation from the Democratic Party co-founded by his grandfather Claude Wathey and Clem Labega more than 50 years ago has not been made official as yet. Neither has he informed Lt. Governor Franklyn Richards or party leader Wescot-Williams about whether he is going independent.
