PM: "I would like to remind the Honourable Member of Parliament that every member of government can be held criminally responsible for carrying out acts that go against the interests of the Country"
The Prime Minister of St. Maarten, the Honourable Sarah Wescot-Williams yesterday further commented on the letter from the Hon. Member of Parliament, Frans Richardson regarding his "instruction" to see motions executed.
The Prime Minister stated on her weekly radio program One on One with the Prime Minister that she has explained on numerous occasions what the inherent rights and responsibilities of Parliament are, and the relationship between Parliament and Government. This she has done generally as well as on the One-on-One radio program, as one of the objectives of the PM for that program is educating the population regarding government and government matters.
With respect to the relationship between Parliament and government members, this relationship is governed by articles in the Constitution and in the rules of order of Parliament, specifically aarticless 62 and 63.
"You would remember that during the discussions on the Budget 2013, we have discussed at length these inherent rights of Parliament and of individual Members of Parliament.
Any Member of Parliament can propose a motion, which is a declaration or statement by Parliament. Once that motion is accepted by a majority, this becomes a motion of the Parliament. In the case of the Budget 2013, we have had an unprecedented number of motions proposed and passed.
In my response to the Honourable Member of Parliament, via the Chairlady of Parliament, I commented that the only one who could send a letter on behalf of Parliament instructing me or any other minister to execute a motion is the Chairlady of Parliament.
Also, motions of Parliament, while they need to be respected and given due consideration by Government ministers, the execution of such can only be done if feasible, financially possible and legal.
The motion to complete the administration building and build a new block annex to the administration building, I reminded the esteemed Member of Parliament, requires an approved budget, which we do not yet have.
Also projects that require capital investments via borrowed money (loans) need to be cleared through the Committee for Financial Supervision. It sounds quite macho for the Honourable Member of Parliament to say that he has instructed the Prime Minister to do this or to do that, but I would also like to remind the Honourable Member of Parliament that I can be held criminally responsible for carrying out acts that go against the interests and the laws of the country" concluded the PM.
In her letter to the Chairlady of Parliament in response to MP Frans Richardson, the Prime Minister included the status report on the new government building, which she had provided to Parliament during the handling of the budget in April.