~ Commissioner remains in office ~
ST. EUSTATIUS--During Wednesday's Island Council meeting a motion was tabled by St. Eustatius Empowerment Party (STEP) councilman Franklin Brown to have Finance Commissioner Glenville B. Schmidt removed. The motion was not carried, after which Governor Gerald Berkel announced that Schmidt would remain in office.
Councilman Brown asked Chairman Berkel to add the motion against his own party member to the agenda of the meeting.
Brown explained he tabled the motion because Schmidt had not complied with his promise to resign after the Island Council adopted a motion of no-confidence during its meeting last week Wednesday.
"STEP has to live up to its promises to the people. We have no other choice than doing this," Brown said before asking for a one-hour recess.
Coalition parties Progressive Labour Party (PLP) and United People's Coalition (UPC) agreed to the recess, with Democratic Party (DP) representative Reuben Merkman voting against.
In explaining the motion, Brown outlined various situations in which Schmidt had failed to adhere to the governing programme, the so-called "Contract with the People."
"Schmidt went to the Governor's Office to present this contract. He put his signature under it and has proven that he can't live up to it. I am not happy to table a motion against my own party member, which is rather unfortunate, but Schmidt did not live up to what he promised."
Brown said the Finance Commissioner vowed to have "everyone" involved in the financial management of the island, but has ended up with the island being put under preliminary financial supervision.
Brown said he had tried to get advisor and former Commissioner of Finance in St. Maarten Xavier Blackman involved, as well as seeking the advice of the secretary of the Committee for Financial Supervision CFT, but all in vain.
"How is it Saba is not under financial supervision?" Brown wondered, who said there had been procrastination in every area of Schmidt's portfolio.
"He was put there to carry out his duties, but the implementation of our party programme has stagnated. The people voted for change, but with Schmidt in office there will not be change."
UPC leader Reginald Zaandam said there was no problem in the coalition, as the conflict with Schmidt was an internal matter of the STEP party. "UPC is still supporting the coalition," said Zaandam.
This led Brown to state Zaandam was washing his hands in innocence like Pontius Pilate, while in fact, the commissioner's dysfunction was a problem of the coalition as a whole. "You can't stand by and allow higher supervision," Brown said.
Merkman said the DP maintained this was a coalition problem. "Let them settle it," he said in the crowded Vincent Astor Lopes Legislative Hall.
Millicent Lijfrock-Marsden (PLP) said "with a bleeding heart" that she could not let the government fall, because this would open the way for a DP-government.
The motion was voted on by secret ballot, after which the votes were counted. During the count, the coalition partners left the legislative hall and were seen huddled together on the stairs in the hallway. After a little while they went down in the yard to discuss matters.
The meeting was resumed after the votes were counted, with Governor Berkel announcing the motion had received two votes in favour, one vote against, and one blank vote. This meant the motion was rejected, because three votes in favour were required.
After the vote, the Governor informed the media that Schmidt would remain in office as Finance Commissioner.
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