PHILIPSBURG–A lunch on Tuesday between two St. Maarteners who happen to also be politicians has spawned a stream of misinformation about a possible coalition crisis. However, this is far from the truth.
There is no crisis and the lunch meeting in Yvette’s restaurant in French Quarter had no political under- or overtone, said United Democrats Member of Parliament (MP) Franklin Meyers, who was one of the two persons at the lunch. The second person was National Alliance MP William Marlin.
A wide range of topics was discussed by the two MPs. Not forming part of the conversation was the breaking of the current United Democrats/St. Maarten Christian Party coalition or forming of a new one, said Meyers. “It is unfortunate we are seen as politicians only and not as St. Maarteners who may go head-to-head in the political arena, but can sit and have a cordial lunch without the rumour of a government collapse,” said Meyers.
Marlin and Meyers had a pending lunch appointment prior to the summer recess. They did not meet due to various circumstances, chief among them the passing of Meyers’ mentor the late Joseph “Joe” Richardson. In memory of “Joe,” Meyers has taken time to reflect and come to grips with losing such a strong anchor in his life.
“Two people from opposite sides of the political arena should be able to sit together and talk about what matters most – the well-being of St. Maarten – without the resulting misinformation,” Meyers told The Daily Herald on Sunday afternoon.
“In spite of attempts to cast a shadow on what was a lunch of two people who have St. Maarten at heart, albeit with different strategies in mind, I will continue to meet with any and all fellow MPs. Why? First of all, we all have St. Maarten at heart and second, all 15 of us were elected to serve all of St. Maarten, not only our voters,” Meyers said.
The MP also dispelled rumours about talks with the opposition United St. Maarten Party. “I have not met with any member or representative of the United St. Maarten Party. It is misinformation like this that obstructs the progress of us as a nation.”
He urged to community to guard against the spreading of misinformation. “Our still recovering country cannot afford instability caused by the sowing of misinformation. This is harmful. It affects the way we as a people are viewed internally and worse yet, externally by those keeping a keen eye on our development,” said Meyers.
Bron: Daily Herald