MP Egbert Jurendy Doran
PHILIPSBURG–National Alliance (NA) Member of Parliament (MP) Egbert Jurendy Doran says government is a place for work, not one for war.
He was responding to statements made by Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunications (TEATT) Stuart Johnson attacking Doran’s earlier comments that it was unacceptable for ministers to be constantly postponing Parliament meetings. Doran had been referring to the latest rescheduled meeting of the Central Committee of Parliament to discuss the status of the Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIA) reconstruction.
Doran said it is Parliament’s duty to question Ministers on behalf of “the people” for everyone to understand what exactly is taking place in this country. “This is absolutely nothing new and therefore it is truly amazing that questions coming from a Member of Parliament, instead of being answered and explained to the people, are referred to as a form of grandstanding,” Doran said.
Doran said the Council of Ministers is no place for oversensitivity and its members must be prepared at all times for the queries coming from the Members of Parliament or from the people of this country.
“A Minister should not allow himself or herself to feel personally attacked and/or upset when questioned by Members of Parliament. In this case, no clarification was given as to why the constant postponements without replacements being sent to Parliament were taking place. Instead, what was published was a ranting and raving response concerning everything, without fully answering the question,” Doran added.
“Let it be known that I will not be deterred by anyone while executing my duties that the good people of this country tasked me with on February 26, 2018, when I was lawfully elected to serve.”
He continued by stating that it has always been and will continue to be the task of Parliament to question ministers and he is therefore calling on any minister who is called to Parliament to do what is expected of them and come to the House of Parliament to execute that very crucial part of their tasks, which is to answer to the people of this country.
“After all, this is why they were chosen and consequently appointed. If, for some more important reason, one or more cannot come to Parliament for whatever reason, kindly arrange with your replacement to be there in order to respect and honour the people of this country by showing up and allowing the meeting to continue, therefore allowing our people the opportunity to be informed and updated,” Doran stressed.
Doran said he would continue to ask questions and meet with ministers as he has been doing for the last months, during or outside of the parliamentary meetings, and that he also will continue to inform the people through the press. He said he is very level-headed and has no time for “ranting and raving,” as his job description does not include “war,” but “work,” which is exactly what he intends to do, “to be successful in helping to take this country forward, thus making it once again a better place to live in for all the people.”
“I have been elected to represent you, the people of this country, as a Member of Parliament and, therefore, it is my intention to look out for your best interests at all times. One of my many tasks, is to question the executive branch (Council of Ministers) until the day that my term is up,” Doran said in his release.
Source: The Daily Herald https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/79323-mp-doran-says-govt-is-place-for-work-not-war
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