Unbiased look at the Sint Maarten Elections
~ Richelda feels deceived, doesn't support Sarah ~
PHILIPSBURG--Former President of the Democratic Party ((DP)) and candidate in the August 29 parliamentary election Michael Ferrier has tendered his resignation from (DP) over the move by party leader Sarah Wescot-Williams to join the United People's (UP) party-led coalition.
(DP) candidate Richelda Rodriguez-Emmanuel in an email responding to Ferrier's resignation said she still couldn't "get over the feeling of anger, deception, disappointment and disbelief" to put in any form of communication. "Those who say to me it's just politics don't grasp that our commitment to this party and our leader has over the years, events, etc., has gone way beyond politics." Rodriguez-Emmanuel said while she will continue to pray for the (DP) leader, she "just can't understand or support this direction."
In a letter to Wescot-Williams dated October 17, Ferrier said Wescot-Williams' decision to "drastically alter the course" set out for (DP) through consensus has caused him to reflect on his own role in the party as long as she remained party leader.
"While I fully grasp and fully understand the concept of being in government to be able to make a meaningful difference in the quality of life for the people of our fledging country, I cannot subscribe to abandoning all that we campaigned on and claim to stand for prior to August 29, 2014, by joining a government that has been given life by a person or a couple of people from within our own (DP) ranks who seems to be driven only by power greed and self-interest," Ferrier said.
"Becoming a small fry in a pond filled with so-called friendly piranhas will not give this (DP) any chance of survival let alone glory."
Ferrier said he was aware that making a significant difference as a one-woman fraction in Parliament would be practically impossible. He said too that Wescot-Williams winding down her personal political career in such a tame fashion is probably also not so desirable.
The former (DP) member said he had urged Wescot-Williams to reach out to the leaders of the two other smaller fractions in parliament, form a formidable block in the opposition benches, thereby utilising a fresh new approach to "force true openness and transparency in government" and government-owned companies. "This might not only have resulted in improving the quality of life for all our citizens, but also prevent the blemishing of your good name and reputation as a woman of integrity and beyond reproach, two traits why I have for the last 15 years until now fiercely defended and supported you."
Ferrier said his first recollection of his unwavering support for (DP) for the past 55 years had been riding his bike with a "vote Claude" flag around town during the campaign for the 1959 Island Council elections. "The last 15 years have seen me grow from making a successful bid for public office as (DP) candidate number 10 in 1999, to being a very vocal part of the face of the (DP) through September 24, 2014, when (DP)'s "second hard earned parliamentary seat "was unceremoniously hijacked by (DP) candidate number 2 Cornelius de Weever."
"This unexpected despicable act of treason committee against the remaining 18 (DP) candidates, whose combined received votes made the second seat a reality for the (DP), not only involuntarily changed our party of course, but also caused all 2,342 (DP) votes minus your 697 to be counted, but rendered of no consequence. The precious votes cast for the (DP) because of loyalty to the party and to you were in essence wasted."
He continued: "How hypocritical our collective presence in that wonderful thanksgiving church service on August 31 led by the dynamic pastor Harrigan and organised by Leona Marlin-Romeo now seems to me."
Ferrier questioned why (DP) did not fire De Weever from the party after he signed an agreement with UP to keep the (DP)'s honours and why Wescot-Williams may be of the opinion that she or (DP) will be given any credit for whatever may go right in the UP/(DP)/Marlin-Romeo coalition government. He also questioned Wescot-Williams' belief that "under the mum of making the call take the (DP) on this 180 degree course deviation, for the good citizens of St. Maarten, is what we meant with our (DP) slogan "Let's get it right."
Ferrier said he was pleased to see that several professional young people have "enthusiastically" joined the active management of (DP), but said he regretfully tendered his resignation from the party with immediate effect.
