~PM Romeo Marlin and De Weever must leave office immediately.~
PHILIPSBURG:--- The majority of nine in the parliament of St. Maarten presented a draft motion of no confidence against the cabinet of Leona Romeo Marlin 2. The motion states that the cabinet lost its majority in Parliament since September 9th when MP Franklin Meyers withdrew his support from the UD/SMCP coalition. On September 11th MP Meyers confirmed his withdrawal of support in writing and also confirmed that he was an independent member of parliament.
The draft motion states that for more than one week the Romeo Marlin 2 cabinet functioned and took decisions as if all was well. That since the government lost its majority for more than two weeks it created a serious sense of insecurity among people on St. Maarten as it left the people without legitimate government strongly jeopardizing the recovery of St. Maarten that was already moving at a slow pace.
On Sunday September 22nd 2019 Members of Parliament, 5 National Alliance, 2 United St. Maarten Party and 2 Independent Members of Parliament Luc Mercelina and Chanel Brownbill signed a declaration informing the Governor, the Government and Parliament of St. Maarten that there was a new majority in parliament prepared to support a new government for St. Maarten.
The it was only following the announcement that a new majority had been formed in parliament that was prepared to support a new government for St. Maarten that the Council of Ministers hurriedly got together and took the decision to invoke article 59 of the constitution to dissolve the parliament of St. Maarten.
The motion further clears that any decisions, collectively, nor individually, reference to appoint the directors, consultants, and personnel in general and also to instruct the caretaker council of ministers not to enter into any contracts and third parties. The motion further stated the same caretaker council of ministers that they are not to remove any members of supervisory boards of government owned companies.
The motion clearly indicates that Prime Minister Leona Romeo Marlin and Minister of Justice Cornelius de Weever must vacate their offices immediately.
Members of Parliament that supported the motion said that the council of ministers are divided and that only on Wednesday the Minister of Finance criticized the Council of Minister for the decision they took to invoke the parliament of St. Maarten when in fact they could have continued governing.
The motion was supported by nine Members of Parliament.
