SXMElections.com

PHILIPSBURG--Government, its workers and civil society are constantly “distracted” and investors are becoming “weary with the ungrounded rumours about the fall of the current government,” said United People’s (UP) party Member of Parliament (MP) Maurice Lake on Wednesday.

Lake said in a press statement that he “strongly dismissed” talk circulating in the community that he plans to break with the current UP-led coalition and form a new one with MPs from the opposition and others from the current coalition.

“I want to make it abundantly clear, as I told my good friend Billie Dee from SOS Radio Station this morning, no one speaks on behalf of Maurice Lake other than Maurice Lake. It is so unfortunate that vicious blog posts become facts and the news of the day in our society,” he said.

“We need to understand that governance is not a game. This is why I am constantly calling for political maturity in this country. Our people also need to understand that not everything placed on the internet is true. Unfortunately, we have people who know that can write anything without fact checking or proof without consequences,” said Lake.

The MP has been critical about government and its handling of issues affecting the country. “This is political maturity. Not because I support the government means I will be silent. As an MP, I have a responsibility to see that government works. It’s like the Transparency International report says Parliament needs to use its oversight function. I did not need a report to tell me that. I am performing my job as required of an MP.”

It is “high time” government, parliament and civil society “get serious” by putting a plan of action for priority issues. “The Governing Programme is starting point. Now, government needs to execute the policies and projects, especially in the areas of economic development and tourism – our life blood,” the MP stated. “We need to sit down with some key stakeholders in the private sector, share our marketing budget and see how they can contribute.”

The Council of Ministers “must ensure” the talents of all qualified civil servants are “optimally tapped into” and that they are placed in the right ministry suited to their background and expertise, said Lake. “This will speed up the process to draft an amended legislation to better serve the people. Our people have passion and drive. They just need more motivation and for ministers to listen to advices from the people on the front line.”