The recent arrest of Curaçao Member of Parliament (MP) Michelangelo “Lo” Martines on suspicion of involvement with the drug trade and money-laundering has again brought the issue of integrity among Dutch Caribbean politicians, also in The Hague. He is part of a minimal legislative majority currently supporting the Pisas II Cabinet and with elections already scheduled for March, it is not clear what the immediate future holds.
MFK leader Gilmar Pisas has suggested Martines can be taken from prison to Parliament and back so he can vote in meetings. That did not sit well with opposition parties on the island.
Fact is that the KEM leader remains in function even behind bars, as was – ironically – the case with this faction assistant Anthony Godett in the past. Only in case of an irrevocable conviction does he lose his seat.
That’s not the case in St. Maarten, mind you, where MPs are automatically suspended when placed in pre-trial detention. To avoid political gridlock as now threatens in Curaçao, however, the party in question will get a substitute member, something that occurred in Philipsburg several times since 10-10-10.
Some disagree, because it meant paying an extra lucrative salary. This is true, but consider the benefit in terms of ethics.
Checks and balances cost money, as is the case with St. Maarten’s Constitutional Court, the only one of its kind in the kingdom. Those involved in preparing country status per October 10, 2010, actually did the people a great service by including these safeguards to help keep both elected representatives and appointed public administrators honest.
It seems like a worthwhile investment.
