Today Newspaper St. Maarten

Editorial: Improper behaviour by a member of parliament

The argument that took place earlier this month at the Cadastre and that this newspaper reveals on its front page today raises questions about the behavior of at least one of our members of parliament.

The Cadastre management has recently come under fire through a disputed report from the office of the Ombudsman. Now we learn that a member of parliament attempted to muscle his way through the procedural treadmill at the Cadastre to obtain a letter of admeasurement for his first cousin.

While the last word has not been said about this incident, the behavior of the MP seems to us to be highly improper. Threatening somebody who is simply following procedures (even though the Ombudsman has a different opinion about this) with four-letter swearwords and by pointing out that the director is “not from here” is simply a disgrace.

Members of Parliament have a role model function. That applies not only when they are in the limelight, but also when they are in meetings with a limited number of witnesses.