PHILIPSBURG--The opposition Democratic Party (DP) failed to lay proper groundwork for Country St. Maarten and is now employing stalling tactics to thwart the efforts of the National Alliance (NA)-led government, Constitutional Affairs Commissioner William Marlin said Wednesday.

He cited what he said was a simple letter of enquiry sent by Finance Commissioner Xavier Blackman to Finance Minister Ersilia de Lannooy that prompted an Island Council meeting called by DP as an example of the DP's stalling tactics.

The entire process of preparing for country status and the general running of government is stalled when such meetings are called, because civil servants who have to prepare answers and do research are the same persons who have to do so much other work, Marlin told a hurriedly-summoned press conference in Dr. A.C. Wathey Legislative Hall.

Some 30 organic laws related to Country St. Maarten still have to be tabled in the Island Council for approval. DP, when in government, had not prepared enough groundwork since the quest for country status began, in particular after the Final Declaration was signed in November 2006, Marlin said.

He said he had made great strides in one year since being in office – including having a date set for attainment of country status just two months after taking office. "What I have been able to accomplish kept me busy day and night" and now that this and other hurdles have been crossed, DP members "want to get on the photo to share the success," he said.

Addressing the claims about information blackout, Marlin said DP Island Council members had to realise that they were not operating within the executive branch of government.

Not all preparations taking place for country status will be communicated immediately, because some issues are still being worked out and announcing them prematurely will only cause confusion, Marlin said.

He asked rhetorically whether DP members wanted him to call them before and after all meetings, to keep them informed directly or via the media. There is "information flowing galore," but there isn't always time to share this with the press or the Island Council, because the island is "in a race against time" with deadlines relating to Country St. Maarten, he said.

"They are not in the executive branch, so they can't know everything," he said.

He also told the press conference, which was broadcast live, that he had "chosen not to engage in any bickering, back-biting or back-stabbing," but to focus on the job at hand.

There is no need to make public statements until everything is finalised, Marlin said, adding that he did not have details of all meetings other commissioners attended or decisions made, until they are concrete.

Issues were raised by DP after learning via the media about preparation for the joint Central Bank of St. Maarten and Curaçao.

Marlin said discussions about this had been held with Curaçao Commissioner Zita Jesus-Leito, but final agreements still had to be worked out and approved by the Executive Council, after which they would be tabled in the Island Council.

Political decisions on the joint Central Bank were made several years ago, so DP's shock about the planned "Caribbean guilder" – a joint currency with Curaçao – is not warranted, Marlin said.

He also hopes to finalise an agreement with Justice Minister Magali Jacoba on granting three-year residence permits to people who fall within Category I of the Brooks Tower Accord. These are persons who have lived in St. Maarten for more than 10 years without proper documentations.

The minister has scheduled a press conference on this issue for today, Thursday.