PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — Across the length and breadth of Sint Maarten citizens are concurring that former Prime Minister William Marlin had it correct and best understands governance. Yet again William-Marlin has shown that his choices were in the best interest of the people of Sint Maarten. Citizens were heard chiding “I told you William-Marlin know the right thing”.
William Marlin expressed that he was always confident of the ruling given by the Kingdom, responding to the news that the Kingdom Government had turned down the request of Interim Prime Minister Mrs. Leona Marlin-Romeo to have the dissolution decree he had signed when he was Prime Minister, discussed in a Kingdom Council of Minister meeting with the intention to have it annulled.
It was nothing more than shameful to actually hear our Interim Prime Minister Marlin-Romeo claim that she has taken an oath to uphold and defend our Constitution, but then show clearly through her actions that she does not understand our Constitution and probably never took the time to read it.
Interim Prime Minister Marlin-Romeo believes, that saying that she has an obligation to uphold and defend the Constitution is simply empty rhetoric that the Prime Minister mouthed, but she clearly does not understand what it means. “When I said so,” former Prime Minister William Marlin said, “I meant it. Whenever I felt our Constitution was under attack, I stood up and fought for Sint Maarten and its people, regardless the circumstances.”
What is sacred for every Member of Parliament, is the Oath or Promise, that he or she will always vote his or her conscience. When the Dutch Government demanded that all 7 Ministers and all 15 Members of Parliament accept their conditions and sign a document to that effect, Marlin said that he told them that that was wrong and unacceptable. That was against our Constitution and the Free Mandate Members of Parliament have, meaning that when they vote, they vote their conscience, they vote for what they believe is right or wrong, and not based on what someone else has forced them to do.
But before even seeing the content of the draft law they had to vote on, the majority of 8 in Parliament was quick to pass a motion, saying they agree. The actions of our Interim Prime Minister Marlin-Romeo and her Council of Ministers to now run to the Kingdom Council of Ministers for
support to correct and hopefully chastise the former Prime Minister Marlin on their behalf, comes therefore as no surprise. If the present Council of Minister had any respect for their own office and for our Constitution, they would have followed the proper procedures.
Prime Minister Marlin-Rome should have drafted a new National Decree to either amend the National Decree of November 12, 2018 or to annul that decree and submit it to our Governor Holiday for signing. The Governor would have had two choices, either to sign or to send it to the Kingdom Government for annulment.
By going directly to The Hague, Marlin-Romeo showed that she either does not know, didn’t care to find out or simply has no respect for proper procedures.
Former Prime Minister, William Marlin, said that this will be clearly a priority for the next Parliament and Government, is the review of all Organic Laws and how they relate to each other and particularly to our Constitution.
Marlin said on Sunday he hopes this matter of postponing or cancelling the election of February 26, 2018 has been put to rest permanently. He said he is calling on all voters to make use of their constitutional right and in a way, their obligation and come out on Monday February 26 and cast their vote in favour of stability for the next 4 years.
