Philipsburg:--- Constant rumors and an unfounded news article published by one of the news agencies on Monday morning caused a ruckus among the St. Maarten population. The article claimed that the present National Alliance, Democratic Party, and IND government is in trouble and there is a shake up that is imminent. The article went as far as saying that the persons that are expected to form the third coalition since St. Maarten became a country are planning to send home the current Prime Minister Sarah Wescot-Williams.
Politicians that are part of the current government said the article is unfounded and has no basis. They further explained that certain people who lost power in government some months ago have been spreading constant rumors. They said one such rumor that was placed in the public domain was that one of the Independent members of Parliament pointed a gun at Deputy Prime Minister William Marlin in a bathroom. "The people of St. Maarten seem to forget that "Golden Boy" said he will give the current coalition government seven months in office and October makes it seven months since the UP/DP Government fell. In our opinion the Golden Boy has people working for him in the media."
A BlackBerry broadcast message was also sent out on Monday which caused confusion at the Department of Public Transportation because several persons that were promised taxi and bus licenses rushed to the department to see if their permits were signed off. Civil servants at the department said they were bombarded with calls about their licenses which are now stuck on the desk of the Department Head Martha Thewet. Sources within the public transportation department told SMN News that the Minister of Transportation had his assistant send an email to the department ordering them to prepare licenses for certain persons but when the news broke on SMN News, the department head asked the Minister to provide her with a written request to process the permits which they have already prepared. That written request they said is not forthcoming therefore the licenses will not be delivered.
SMN News learnt that while current coalition is having serious problems regarding how to balance the budget and the illegal filling in of the Great Salt Pond there has been no major issues that would throw the government down now. "Yes, there are disagreements in government especially regarding the drag strip and the filling in of the Great Salt Pond, but there is no indication that the government would dismantle right now. An independent member of Parliament has been making demands to get the TEMPO Turn 7 off the ground and to certain things his way but apart from that the current coalition government is busy working on the affairs of the people of St. Maarten.
In an invited comment, Deputy Prime Minister William Marlin said that the National Alliance is not involved in any discussions with any other political party to form a new government. Marlin said as far as he is concerned the current coalition is solid and not in jeopardy.