Well………it was Theo’s birthday……..
PHILIPSBURG–Although eleven Members of Parliament (MPs) were present in the General Assembly Hall of Parliament House on Monday, only seven were signed in and ready for the Central Committee meeting dealing with the draft law to establish an Integrity Chamber for the country. Seven MPs were one short of the needed quorum for the meeting to proceed.
Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs and Justice Minister Dennis Richardson were set to table the draft law as the struggle with the Dutch Kingdom Government continues over St. Maarten’s perceived integrity issues. The meeting now will have to be recalled at a later date.
Parliament President Dr. Lloyd Richardson (United People’s (UP) party) called the meeting off at 2:30pm, after waiting in vain the prescribed 30 minutes after the scheduled start time to see whether the meeting would have the needed quorum of MPs.
Dr. Richardson told the press after the aborted meeting that he had approached National Alliance (NA) MPs William Marlin, Christophe Emmanuel and George Pantophlet for their support for the meeting, due to three coalition members being off-island. He said they had “promised [to – Ed.] support us,” but that did not happen.
“It is not a political issue. It is one of national importance,” Dr. Richardson said.
Asked how he felt about the stalled meeting and how the law makes St. Maarten look in the eyes of the Kingdom Government, Dr. Richardson said: “It does not make us look serious. It is definitely damaging to the country.”
NA MPs Marlin, Emmanuel and Silveria Jacobs along with Democratic Party (DP) MP Sarah Wescot-Williams were in their seats in the General Assembly Hall, but they did not sign the attendance list.
The only signatures on the attendance list were those of coalition MPs Dr. Richardson, Theo Heyliger, Silvio Matser, Tamara Leonard and Johan Leonard of UP, Frans Richardson (United St. Maarten party) and Cornelius de Weever (independent).
Absent with notice were MPs Franklin Meyers and Maurice Lake of UP, and Leona Marlin-Romeo (independent).
LAST SXM SINT MAARTEN PARLIAMENT MEETING CANCELLED… LACK OF QUORUM OF COURSE…….
in xmrt,there are too much problems.i think not a financial one but more social problems between the local parties and members or leaders..