PHILIPSBURG--United People’s (UP) party fraction leader Member of Parliament (MP) Franklin Meyers is not in agreement with the move by Governor Eugene Holiday to sign the National Decree submitted by the incumbent Government, which moves the date of elections to September 26, 2016.
In a press release issued late Tuesday night Meyers opined that the National Decree signed by Holiday “cannot go in effect,” because “it is an amendment to something that was not in effect as yet.” He claims that Article 23 of the Constitution (regarding the right to vote) and article 59 (regarding the dissolution of Parliament) are being violated.
Meyers believes that the original decree of the former Gumbs-cabinet “that came in effect at a later date is still valid. The only amendment that can be made is the date of elections within the three months from the date that the original decree came in effect. Besides that, there is no way that a National Decree supersedes the Constitution and no provisions have been made in the Constitution to postpone or cancel elections in any event.”
He said “following this way of doing things, anybody can be picked up from the street based on a National Decree without regards to any human rights.”
“Ironically, on December 10, we commemorate the Day of Human Rights and in that same week this coalition has chosen to violate our people’s human right to cast their vote.”
Meyers believes that the constitution is being violated and human rights denied and said this puts the country’s democracy in jeopardy. Meyers said he will “fight” for justice to prevail, but did not specify what actions will be taken in this battle.
Meyers also alluded to the voting on the Integrity Chamber saying that he is now aware as to why the National Alliance (NA) voted against it. He claimed that the new coalition is “not equipped” to “get their own house in order” and accused the party of “greed” and “incapability to participate in fair and transparent elections.”
