PHILIPSBURG:--- The board of the United St. Maarten Party, in reaction to the detention of its leader MP Frans Richardson, on Wednesday said their leader maintains his innocence and expects to be fully vindicated of all charges. The board and candidates stand behind its leader and his family and await with confidence the outcome of any trial before a court of law.
The timing of the arrest has however not gone unnoticed, so close before an election. The party cannot escape the impression that the prosecutor is attempting to influence the outcome of the election. The timing is just too precise to be a coincidence. Considering the span of time of the ongoing case to which our leaders are alleged to be associated with, there was absolutely no urgency for this action at this time.
This is why the party maintains that it is politically motivated. The reasons we have come to these conclusions is because we have seen these patterns in the past.
In the meantime, the dynamic candidates of the USP will continue taking the message and the plans of the party to the electorate in the remaining days of the 2018 campaign for Parliament.
http://www.smn-news.com/st-maarten-st-martin-news/28434-usp-board-leader-maintains-innocence-candidates-will-push-on.html
