USp board: Chanel received ample support and guidance

GREAT BAY — The board of the United St. Maarten (US) party said it is very disappointed in MP Chanel Brownbill for the decision he took despite having stood by him through everything and involved him in even more. Brownbill ran on the slate of the US party in the last Parliamentary Elections.

The board explained that all effort was made to surround MP Brownbill, a new MP, with the assistance and guidance he needs to be successful in Parliament. “The party surrounded him with a legal expert and a legislative expert and former law maker. We made sure that the doors were always opened to him on both tiers of government and maintained open and constant communication. So this is very disappointing and regrettable,” the party board said.

“Here we had a young man looking for a home after being disenfranchised with his former political home. We decided to give a young person an opportunity to learn, to grow, to leave his mark on St. Maarten as a representative of the people. He repaid that chance given to him by the US family, by abandoning us and throwing the country into chaos with those that encouraged and enabled him.”

The board of the USP added that members of the Democratic Party (DP) should be ashamed of themselves for preying on young MP’s and encouraging them to do what the DP itself campaigned against last election; “jump ship”

“It is amazing that the Democratic Party actually placed itself on a high horse these past few weeks while it was still trying to undermine a government it was part of. Amazing that the DP, self-righteous in its quest against ship-jumping, can do this to the people of St. Maarten again with a straight face. If we are going into an election, we are doing so because of the DP. The conniving ways, scheming, undermining just for power is what led us to this point and we will not let the people of St. Maarten forget it,” the US board said.

As for Brownbill, the board said the MP has not contacted the board, has not resigned from the party and has yet to let the board know what his intensions are. “We don’t know why MP Brownbill did what he did. We do know he was manipulated into doing it. What’s done is done. The board and members of the US party will continue to work diligently for the people of St. Maarten in or out of government. The moves of one MP does not change that principle for us” the party board said.

US leader MP Frans Richardson told Brownbill in Parliament of Wednesday evening that he respects him and understand that he wanted to take a stand. However, Richardson told Brownbill that he has pledged his support to a group who will use him for the short time and then destroy him. “They will not guide you and help you. They will eventually destroy you,” the MP said.