PHILIPSBURG–The threat of being ruled by a regime with more than 200 years of colonial practice dominating trade, much like the Dutch East India Company, and the potential loss of the St. Maarten identity, are what the United Haitian Community St. Maarten (UHCS) believes to be at stake in the “witch hunt to cripple political leaders,” including Member of Parliament Theodore Heyliger.
In a statement to the media on Monday, the association has taken notice of the many instances in which the leaders of political parties in St. Maarten have been shamed for sometimes frivolous cases of tax evasion.
“The Netherlands’ hold on St. Maarten has made citizens feel afraid to fight for the interest of St. Maarten fearing that they too will become targets of baseless allegations and public humiliation.
“Haitian nationals have for more than 75 years made St. Maarten a home and proud place to live and work and they are calling on leadership to stop the careless waste of taxpayers’ money to try eight- and ten-year-old allegations that have not been adequately substantiated,” stated the board in their joint press release.
“The work done by the late Dr. Claude Wathey, co-founder of the Democratic Party and longest-serving leader in the island’s history, has made it possible for dozens of different nationalities to form one community and live mostly in harmony. Now today we see that the political leaders are being refused their democratic rights to run the country and return it to a period of prosperity for all, despite many of them receiving the
full mandate of the electorate to lead.
“We believe that recent decisions to prosecute Heyliger for an eight-year-old allegation of vote-buying when he has consistently been the highest vote-getter for every
election, including those closely monitored by the Netherlands, is nothing more than a
continuation of the victimisation that started years ago with Dr Wathey.
“We are well aware that the decision to put this one individual [MP Heyliger – Ed.] and his family through criminal proceedings does not weigh heavier than it did for others who have fallen before. We do not condone illegal acts, and we believe a man is innocent until proven guilty. However, our concern is that the people who are bent on prosecuting MP Heyliger and others are the ones who will at the same time be the judge of his innocence or guilt.
“The fact that a Judge in a separate case had insisted that MP Heyliger should be the one on trial suggests that the MP cannot have a reasonable expectation of a fair trial. Heyliger has for years followed in his grandfather’s stead, taken care of the people of this country.
“The action of the Prosecutor’s Office, likely at the direction of others with a personal interest in dominating the decision-making apparatus of our government, will destroy St. Maarten and leave Haitian nationals without a place they can call home.”
The group encourages the entire community to come out and take part in the silent demonstration set for this Wednesday to take a stand for leaders of St. Maarten.
Source: The Daily Herald https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/80003-haitian-community-calls-decision-to-prosecute-heyliger-witch-hunt
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