Will Johnson sees Theo as 'natural leader' of DP 

PHILIPSBURG--The memory and contribution of the late Dr. Claude Wathey cannot be separated or erased from the Democratic Party (DP) of which he was a co-founder, said DP leader Island Councilwoman Sarah Wescot-Williams at Saturday's wreath-laying ceremony to mark the anniversary of Wathey's birth.

She told the press the DP was "extremely humbled" to be able to continue the traditional wreath-laying as a way to honour Wathey and to show gratitude for what he had done for the development of the party and the people of St. Maarten. DP Island Council members Roy Marlin and Maria Buncamper-Molanus also were present for the ceremony. Absent was DP Councilman Leroy de Weever.

The Saturday morning ceremony had a marked difference from the past 11 years. The Wathey family, in particular the "Ole Man's" grandson, caretaker commissioner Theo Heyliger, was not present for the ceremony, so no wreath was placed on their behalf. The family held a separate ceremony at 4:00pm. It was the first time two wreath-laying ceremonies had been held.

Heyliger broke with the DP in June 2009 and formed a coalition with then-opposition National Alliance (NA), putting the NA into government in the middle of the four-year Island Council term. That term has been shortened, as elections for the first parliament of Country St. Maarten have been called for September 17.

Master of Ceremonies Erno Labega told the gathering in front of the Government Administration Building that although wreaths were available for the Wathey family and the National Alliance (NA)-led Executive Council to place in Wathey's honour, representatives were not present.

Labega, DP deputy leader and son of DP co-founder Clem Labega, said the 12th annual ceremony, organised by the A.C. Wathey Political Awareness Foundation, followed the traditional line-up for wreath-laying, beginning with DP leader Wescot-Williams and DP president Michael Ferrier, followed by the Executive Council.

The ambassadors of University of St. Martin, which Wathey played an instrumental part in setting up, were next on the line-up, after which the Awareness Foundation should have placed a wreath. That wreath was to have been placed by Heyliger, but he was not present. Instead, Labega took up the task for the foundation.

The Wathey family and the DP Youth Wing were the last on the list. The youth wing was represented.

Saba Parliamentarian Will Johnson was present at Saturday morning's wreath-laying ceremony. He was in St. Maarten for a meeting of Saba Bank Petroleum Resources N.V. He said he remembered Wathey's birthday, as it was also the anniversary of his mother's birth.

When the DP asked him to join them for a group photo in front of Wathey's statue, Johnson declined, saying he'd be back for the wreath-laying in the afternoon. "I am here for the Golden Boy (as Heyliger is affectionately referred to by some people in the community)."

Johnson told the press that while there had been differences between him and Heyliger on issues such as utilities company GEBE, he was still proud of Heyliger for how he had moved St. Maarten forward. He also commended Heyliger for never denying his Saba heritage. "He always says his father is from Saba. He is not like others who say they are not from Saba."

Johnson said he was curious to see how Heyliger would perform at the polls now that he was running on his own party list. He said Heyliger should have become the "natural leader" of the DP, following in the footsteps of his grandfather and political mentor, but he didn't know what had gone wrong that had prevented this from happening.

Johnson, a political veteran, said he visualised Heyliger "doing well in the elections" although there had been some controversy over the way he had pushed forward projects, "but just look at the harbour. He has shown interest in moving St. Maarten with his forward thinking."

The former leader of Saba's government said he was not endorsing Heyliger on Saba's behalf, as he has no authority to do so, but this was his personal view.