PHILIPSBURG--The National Alliance (NA)-led government has had no discussion on replacing Deputy Leader of Government Commissioner Theo Heyliger, who resigned on July 19 with immediate effect, as long as he continues to perform his duties.

Leader of Government Commissioner William Marlin, when asked by the press how government intends to handle the matter, said NA and Heyliger had an agreement, referring to the Emilio Wilson Estate Accord signed on June 6, 2009 that moved NA from the opposition into the government.

Heyliger resigned as a commissioner citing the need to prepare his new United People (UP) party for the September 17 early Island Council elections. The party was launched on July 24.

Heyliger stays in office as long as he continues to function and so far that has occurred, Marlin said, pointing out that up to Monday the commissioner was at work in the Island Council meeting. That meeting's main agenda points related to Heyliger's portfolios of Public Works and Utilities.

Marlin, however, was very critical of the way Heyliger carried out his duties on Monday as well as his resistance to change in the Public Works Department. He said as long as he is Leader of Government he will not have any commissioner present a decision that is not the right one.

"If that happens I will deal with it accordingly," Marlin said, alluding to Heyliger's presentation to the Island Council on the granting of a variance on a planning permit to Olzina N.V.

Heyliger proposed to the council that the variance be granted and Marlin tabled what he called the decision of the majority of the Executive Council not to grant the variance. The matter ended up in a tied vote. The variance will be again voted on by the Island Council today, Thursday.

Marlin said if the commissioner was "allowed to get away" with presenting decisions that did not reflect that of the Executive Council in the past and his former party leader Sarah Wescot-Williams of the Democratic Party (DP) didn't "put her foot down" he would not allow it to happen under his watch.

Heyliger "continues to sit" with the Executive Council and had not moved over to the other side of Dr. A.C. Wathey legislative Hall where the Island Council members not serving in the Executive Council sit, Marlin said.

Resigning with immediate effect is a "technical thing" because in the government system, a commissioner is active until replaced. NA had made no move to replace him. Such a move will entail presenting a proposal for the appointment of a new commissioner to the Island Council.

Marlin drew a comparison with the resignation of former DP Commissioner Maria Buncamper-Molanus, hinting that the same scenario can play out with Heyliger. Buncamper-Molanus had resigned with immediate effect two years ago when faced with a motion of no confidence. The then-government had gone after to the Island Council to appoint a "new" commissioner who was in fact Buncamper-Molanus.