CARIBBEAN NEWS AGGREGATOR by judith roumou

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PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Public Housing, Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure (Ministry VROMI) Hon. Maurice Lake says he is preparing for a legal battle regarding the Vorst property based on the outcome of the Central Committee meeting on Friday, September 19.

"I am going to prepare myself legally for this case because some Parliamentarians are making this issue a personal one. This is not about politics anymore. I have to defend myself now with the slandering of my name. I don't have any butter on my head. I have listened, and I took a lot during the election campaign, and the latter is politics. When elections are over, we move on as a people together.

"I understand politics but some parliamentarians are crossing the line and creating confusion in the community. As Minister of VROMI, I made a decision in the best interest of the people to purchase the Vorst Estate rather than leasing the property in which was going to cost much more, several million dollars more, and you don't own the property at the end of the lease.

"If Government wants to overrule and go back to lease so be it. I have not done anything wrong and I don't fear man but God. I will continue to be strong in all what I am doing for the people no matter despite some parliamentarians and some of those in Government who are trying everything to hold me liable.

"As the old people say when you dig a hole, you have to dig two. I would like to know from the same parliamentarians who have made the Vorst issue a personal vendetta, who we should hold liable for the Government Building that sat empty for years; for increasing the price of the Emilio Wilson Estate without Council of Ministers approval; the asphalt and sand deal; the St. Peters Hill illegal construction without having a deed; building an illegal Co2 gas tank on a Good Friday in Dutch Quarter while the Dutch Quarter Council and residents protest?

"Imagine the last meetings of Parliament are just spent talking about Maurice Lake who is working for the people rather than passing laws and legislation for the people. On two occasions, a Member of Parliament held a meeting at his home with respect to firing Maurice Lake because he was working too hard for the people.

"Discuss the safety and security concerns of the people where armed robberies have seemingly become a daily way of life for the people of this country. Six armed robberies in the past week alone with the latest one being an armed robbery in a tourist area down Cupecoy on Sunday morning. This is an issue where the people and tourists are feeling unsafe and action is needed.

"With a couple of weeks left in Government, we are not going to accomplish things in the interests of the country by still having that mind-set of the Executive Council and Island Council way of doing things. Each Minister has a budget and makes their own decision on how those funds are to be spent, but still consults with his colleagues in the Council if or when necessary. We need to start working together and stop trying to bring down each other. What message are we sending to young professionals?

"We are only embarrassing ourselves and making Government very unstable. We got to focus on preparing our people for the hard times ahead and empowering them to become and continue to be leaders within their own Country.
"We need to have people in Government who are going to be creative to move this country forward. Right now the new Government in waiting is just creating mass confusion and putting people against each other with a tunnel vision mentality for the country prior to being sworn in.

"In closing, I am looking forward to represent my people in Parliament to move this Country forward. I am also going to prepare myself and defend myself while some parliamentarians plan for me.

"I can foresee already the level of mass confusion, passing the buck and blame games, and this is why certain political parties can't perform in Government.

"I hope and pray they follow the white line while in Government because I am going to raise the bar in Parliament and continue to be open and transparent with the people's business, and they better be prepared to do the same," Minister Hon. Maurice Lake concluded.