Marigot:--- Territorial Councillor Jean David Richardson has sent a letter to the President of the Collectivity which was also sent to the media informing that he has resigned from the Commission of Youth, Culture and Sports Affairs. Richardson said that he is sure that the President of the COM will not be surprised by his letter since he already drew his attention to the uncomfortable situation since the President has shown little consideration for the commission and its role. Richardson also accused President Frantz Gumbs of not having any regard for democracy based on the manner in which he took decisions. He also reminded the president that he is an elected official and a member of the territorial council.Richardson said in his letter "I'd like to remind you that we have been elected by the people to serve the people and not to use the people to our advantage and satisfy our personal ambitions. Your actions are leading our young community to a downfall and one would have to be blind not to see it and that's in every field."
The territorial councillor reminded President Gumbs regarding the failures of the elected officials.
"What have we done in favour of the youth? We have talked and talked some more, but you have never considered it worthwhile to consult with the youth in the districts like I had recommended that it should have been done.
You even refuse to admit that the youth is left up to themselves, and so they are blamed for all the wrongs that are occurring in the community.
In the RSMA (Adapted military service) file, I proposed a joint action with the CLSPD, prevention group against delinquency. What have you done since? Nothing at all ! This means to me that you don't believe in seconds chances for the young people who are in difficulty that live here, where ever they came from."
Richardson complained about the lack of finances to sustain the youth programs he suggested but the President he said has always said there was no money, yet there is money to finance other activities or to give contracts to private entities.
Richardson accused President Gumbs of overturning an agreement made by the commission regarding domain land.
"Whereas our Commission, in agreement with the concerned departments, had decided not to grant a new authorization for a private individual to occupy the public domain in the area of Grand-Case, you, in your own right decided to over rule our collective decision. The request that we had previously turned down, you approved and had us look like a bunch of fools. And then, you have the nerve to send the requests emanating from locals, which you clearly discriminated against."
"In the matter regarding public water and the board in which I sit, a recent audit shows that the price of the water in Saint-Martin is 2.6 times more expensive than in Guadeloupe or than on Dutch St. Maarten. Our people are held hostage by these prices, so when are you going to confront this situation?
You are mute on this important matter in which lots of money is being wasted and lost and the same goes for many other matters. But to whose benefit?
Definitely not in benefit of the people of Saint-Martin that you say you love so much!! "
The letter continues to attack issues regardin the Grand Case Airport
"In the bid regarding the airport of Grand-Case, as a member of the board, I deeply regret that we are not, in fact, part of the decisions. Even if you have the power to act, don't you think it would be wiser to let the Island Council give his opinion on such important matters which will engage us for years?"
We are elected officials, we have commissions that cannot give us information to make a right decision for our population. The majority group meetings never prepare the Territorial Council as it ought to be, so I will no longer attend these majority meetings.
As an elected person I don't even have the agenda of the Executive Council, so I don't even know when it concerns the Commission that I preside! And like most of my colleagues we learn things from third parties or by the media.
I have been elected by the people of Saint-Martin to work on their behalf and not on our personnel agendas. There is not a day that passes without having many of them express themselves about how they feel and about the functioning of our Collectivity. And your way of being president of the Collectivity is more than I can continue to bear and be silent about because it is, in no wise, respectful to the initial commitment of our programme announced during the election campaign."