Sarah Wescot-Williams resigns from the post of chairperson of the Permanent Commission for Constitutional Affairs and that of the Broad-base Committee for constitutional affairs.
September 15, 2009
On Monday, September 14, 2009, Democratic Party leader and island council member Sarah Wescot-Williams tendered her resignation as chairperson of the Permanent Commission for Constitutional affairs. She also immediately convened a meeting of this commission for September 22 to handle her resignation.
In explaining this move, the DP leader stated that the PCCA consists of all members of the island council and a core group of the party leaders (the so-called steering group). The PCCA appoints its chairperson from amongst its members. The steering group is chaired by the political combination that represents the majority in the island council.
On August 19, the leader of the DP requested of Commissioner Marlin (representing the majority in the island council) that he convenes a meeting of the steering group to discuss the furtherance of the PCCA.
The ensuing public debate is known. And so, the DP leader resigned from the post, but recognized that a meeting needed to be called to appoint a chairperson. A responsibility she took up to keep the process moving.
In the same vein, she tendered her resignation as Chairperson of the Broad-base Committee, which chairperson is the commissioner charged with Constitutional Affairs.
In her letter to the Executive Council, the DP leader stated that "Albeit that the island resolution of March 2, 2004 no. 828 is clear with respect to the chairmanship of this committee, namely that such rests with the Commissioner responsible for constitutional affairs, I wish to preempt any argument that the chairmanship is forming an impediment to the (further) functioning of this committee."
The DP leader wishes to thank the representatives of the different sectors represented in the Broad-base Committee for their invaluable participation in discussions relating to our constitutional future, and in particular those relating to our new constitution.
She also expresses gratitude to the members of the island council who showed their interest in our constitutional future by participating frequently in the discussions of the PCCA.