PHILIPSBURG:--- Member of Parliament Rolando Brison on Sunday evening announced in a press release that he will contest the upcoming Parliamentary Elections with the United People Party (UP) in the #1 position and as the new leader of the green party.
Party founder and leader Theodore Heyliger will be resigning from the UPP in order to hand over full leadership of the party to MP Rolando Brison. Brison intends to revitalize the UPP to continue his image of hard work and parliamentary representation.
SMN News learned that one of the conditions given to the UPP is that Brison will continue with the inquiry on Mullet Bay with the full support of the UP MP’s. Brison will also be presenting two new laws against malpractice from banks.
The move has been accepted and approved by the board of the UP and received the blessing of former party leader and founder Theodore Heyliger. Brison made his decision after meeting with political parties this past week.
Brison began his stint in the political arena with the UP as part of the party’s marketing team. While in college he also served as an intern with Heyliger who was Commissioner of Tourism & Economic Affairs.
Brison thanked the UP board and Heyliger for entrusting him with full leadership of the party and for the confidence shown in him during their discussions. He said it became very evident very quickly that the UP party would be a good fit for him and his progressive views for St. Maarten. He said the decision to leave his former party was not an easy one and neither was the decision on his new political home.
Most importantly, he noted, “The party has a clear direction. And in establishing that clear direction the UP accepts the unfortunate reality that our people have lost faith in their government and the party must be focused on how to regain that through an all-inclusive and approach and effective representation. We will be clear in identifying what our goals and priorities are and how we want to achieve them. And then actually deliver.”
“All I want to do is work. I love working for our people. I love doing research and I believe our people deserve effective representation in Parliament,” he said, adding that the UP will field a dynamic list for the January 9 Parliamentary elections.
Brison said his core values have always been to put St. Maarten first and put hard work in what I do and this will not change with the UP. “I am committed to providing the people of St. Maarten, not just those who vote for me, with a high level of representation and effective service. I cannot take up a seat in Parliament and when the time comes to tell the people sorry, I have nothing to report on. Or sorry, I didn't do anything to improve your quality of life. I believe I have shown exactly the opposite. I also look forward to continuing working with all members of Parliament in the best interest of St. Maarten.”
The MP said his ethical responsibility to all citizens is to do whatever he can as an elected representative to improve their quality of life and restore their trust in their government. “Each of us has a responsibility to our people to find a way to do better. I assure the people of St. Maarten that during the course of this campaign the UP will be clear in its direction for St. Maarten and will remain committed to putting our people first.
