PHILIPSBURG--Minister of Tourism Stuart Johnson is facing a motion of no-confidence by Member of Parliament (MP) Christophe Emmanuel for not showing up at an urgent meeting called by the opposition members on Monday to deal with the much-talked-about decision the Council of Ministers took to opt for a combination of a grant of US $50 million via the Dutch government-financed World Bank-administered trust fund and a loan of the same amount from the European Investment Bank (EIB) to finance the reconstruction of St. Maarten’s Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIA).
The meeting called on Johnson as the PJIA shareholder representative to come to parliament to give a detailed account of what made the Council of Ministers decide to go with the Dutch government and EIB. Emmanuel presented the motion during his speaking time in the first round of the meeting.
“The minister never came to parliament. He has avoided parliament at all cost. It was told to us that he went on a trip. Now we are told it’s a cruise. I would like to know Madame Speaker, if it’s a family cruise, gay cruise, friendship cruise, business cruise; what kind of cruise, Madame speaker? At this crucial moment, the minister should be in parliament,” said Emmanuel.
The motion outlines points highlighting that Johnson has never showed up for a public meeting and that parliament has the responsibility to call ministers and get answers from them. The motion was signed by MPs Emmanuel, Frans Richardson, Rolando Brison, Silveria Jacobs, Egbert Doran, Ardwell Irion and William Marlin.
The motion will be voted on during the second round of the meeting. Parliament Chairperson Sarah Wescot-Williams adjourned the meeting until further notice after the first round concluded. This allows Prime Minister Leona Marlin-Romeo, who was present for the meeting, to get answers for several members who requested clarity on the airport deal.
