Laveist says he backs DP
because NA not serious
PHILIPSBURG--Island Councilman Louie Laveist says he has decided to support the Democratic Party (DP) again, taking into consideration the island’s constitutional developments and the challenges it will be facing in 2009 due to the economic and financial downturn in the US economy.
In a statement faxed from the office of DP Commissioner Roy Marlin on Monday evening, Laveist also said that from his meetings with the National Alliance (NA), he concluded that that party would not lead to any serious progress for St. Maarten.
He noted that there had been no shortage of rumours and speculations in the week since he had informed Lt. Governor Franklyn Richards he had withdrawn his support for the DP Executive Council.
He had concluded that it would be in the best interest of St. Maarten that the present Executive Council continued to carry the political responsibility for the day-to-day management of the people’s affairs.
“Furthermore, the preparation of the upcoming Round Table Conference scheduled for December 15 remains of vital importance in order for St. Maarten not to lose sight of the goal.
“I firmly believe that our island should have a majority-backed government in the Island Council in order for St. Maarten’s future constitutional relationship in the Kingdom to be debated with the Kingdom partners from a position of strength,” Laveist said.
To that end, following intense discussions with DP leader Sarah Wescot-Williams, he said he had decided to assure her of his continued support for the DP political faction as an independent member of the Island Council.
He said that after initially pledging his support to the NA to form a government and meeting with NA leader William Marlin and several key players within that party, no serious attempt had been made to assure him that his support was needed not only to put commissioners in office, but also to guarantee the continued progress of the island.
“I therefore concluded that these meetings would not lead to any serious progress for St. Maarten. The constitutional change process, which is of vital importance and for which crucial discussions will be taking place in the next couple of weeks, would also suffer a major setback which I could not reasonably account for to the people of St. Maarten.
“There were no substantive discussions about who would comprise a new government or what a governing programme would entail. During this entire process, I have never lost sight of the fact that St. Maarten would only suffer if the political stalemate endures any longer,” Laveist said.
