Dear Editor,
After just over a year, MP De Weever has broken his silence on his reasons for becoming the ship jumper and ultimately placing St. Maarten in the political turmoil we now face; although having campaigned in 2014 on stability.
His position: "DP does not support local employment." Really? Fact of the matter is, the ordinance on foreign labour states that government can create a counterpart system, truth be told it does not state how.
So.. MP De Weever proposed his policy on the counterpart system on August 12, 2014, two weeks prior to election. Another political gimmick, during elections to play with the people's emotions.
In his policy he wanted to create a pilot project, because according to him, businesses were already on board. This policy was approved!! Because the policy was already approved when putting the governing program together by the NA, USP and DP, it was established, there was no need to put an already existing policy into the governing program. But yes, having a policy and actual implementation are indeed two different factors.
The irony in all this is after having leaped to join forces in greener pastures, one year later the same counterpart policy that has been in existence, and according to MP De Weever, the reason he was forced to leave the DP, has yet to be implemented.
So, I can only imagine that it was with a heavy heart, MP De Weever wrote in his article: "DP does not believe in local employment", and I quote: " I do hope that the new coalition and incoming Minister of Labour respects the will of the people and takes the time out to read the implementation guidelines to ensure that counterpart policy and legislation is enforced."
For the way I see it, that incoming minister is the real reason you, and those who were able to manoeuvre you, abandoned ship. I can't conclude without stating how utterly disrespectful your display to the Chair lady of Parliament was in the meeting of Thursday last, not only by questioning whether you should refer to her as such, but when things didn't go your way, had one of your temper tantrums.
Yet, I do understand why. You now have a point to prove as you are now allowed to play on the big boys’ playground; however, you should conduct yourself as an honourable MP, at least while on the floor of Parliament.
Marinka Gumbs
