Unbiased look at the Sint Maarten Elections
PHILIPSBURG--"No sitting MP in here or none of the ones that were just put out have I ever met with to discuss anything about money and about moving for money in government," United People's (UP) party leader Member of Parliament Theo Heyliger stated in Parliament on Wednesday afternoon.
Heyliger's name has been bandied in the community for some time now as having paid MPs to break with their political parties to join as coalition partners in an UP-led government.
He said he wanted to answer all of the talk about the exchange of money. "We are here throwing around millions and [saying] who was bought out for that amount of millions and I think the statement has to come out" about not discussing or giving any money. "Nobody can put me on any position like that."
Heyliger said he had not requested that anyone move and no one close to him had done this either. "This fella here [referring to himself – Ed.] with the grey hair has not asked no one. ... Everybody's mouth is for themselves, but I am telling you this one here didn't make no offer to no one.
"It is ridiculous how we degrade individuals who have aspired to be good servants of the people. It is terrible to hear MP Cornelius de Weever being accused of selling out to this one or MP Leona Marlin-Romeo being accused of selling out for this one," he said.
"I am usually the one to say 'Ah, let it pass,' but now we can't let anything pass that is said about anyone of us here anymore, because, guess what, it continues now to live a life of its own beyond St. Maarten. And that now is being used as sticks to actually break St. Maarten's back.
"These things [the accusations – Ed.] have to stop from living a life of their own. If we want to continue of course fuelling that fire then let that be up to those who want to do so," he said.
Referring to statements made by National Alliance (NA) MP Christophe Emmanuel in the first round of debate on Monday about having been offered money to leave his party by people he did not name, Heyliger said, "Then go and do what has to happen," as in reporting any breach to the Justice authorities.
"We have to realise that the things we say also on the floor of Parliament can hold us liable or have us be questioned from the time you walk down those steps. ... We have to realise there are actions or reactions to the actions we do in here," Heyliger said.
