~MP Raises Explosive Questions on Medical Licensing, Pressure on Civil Servants, Procurement, and Abuse-of-Power Claims, The Country Deserves Clear Answers~
PHILIPSBURG:--- Member of Parliament Egbert Jurendy Doran delivered a passionate and wide-ranging intervention during a tense parliamentary meeting centered on allegations involving Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina and Minister of VSA Richinel Brug.
Speaking during the public meeting on Monday, Doran argued that the ongoing dispute had evolved from what he described as “a personal issue” into a “national crisis,” while stressing that Parliament and the people of St. Maarten deserve transparency, substantiation, and accountability from all parties involved.
“The country’s concern is whether the Prime Minister used his office properly,” Doran stated during his address. “The country’s concern is whether procurement processes were respected, whether civil servants were pressured, and whether medical licensing decisions were handled according to the law.”
Questions Over Boundaries and Government Conduct
Throughout his intervention, Doran repeatedly questioned whether the Prime Minister had crossed the line between coordination and interference in ministries led by other ministers.
He referenced concerns allegedly raised by multiple ministers in the past regarding the Prime Minister’s involvement in their portfolios, suggesting that Minister Brug may simply have been the first to publicly detail those frustrations.
Doran asked whether civil servants within the Ministry of VSA were ever instructed to bypass established chains of command or pressured into carrying out directives outside the authority of the minister responsible.
“Do you feel that in one way or another, maybe you crossed over into another minister’s portfolio?” Doran asked.
He also pressed for evidence to substantiate allegations raised during the meeting, saying Parliament should not be expected to make decisions based solely on statements without supporting documentation.
Medical Licensing Concerns Raised
A significant portion of Doran’s contribution focused on allegations related to medical licensing approvals.
The MP questioned whether individuals had been permitted to practice as general practitioners or specialists despite allegedly not meeting legal qualifications.
Doran further raised concerns about whether liability should malpractice occur under such circumstances.
“If something goes wrong with a patient in this person’s care that doesn’t have the proper legal requirements, who then carries that liability?” he asked.
He questioned whether approvals had been granted despite negative advice from competent bodies such as the Department of Public Health or the Inspectorate.
Procurement and BIG Project Questions
The MP also turned attention to the BIG registration and procurement procedures connected to the project.
Doran questioned whether any individual had received advance information or an unfair advantage before the tendering process began, and whether confidential documents may have been leaked internally.
He asked whether the Prime Minister or members of his cabinet had provided government documents to outside parties, stressing that integrity standards should apply equally to all public officials.
“The same integrity standards should apply to everyone,” Doran said.
Frustration Over National Priorities
Despite the seriousness of the allegations being discussed, Doran expressed frustration that Parliament was consumed by internal political conflict while citizens continue facing pressing national issues.
He argued that the country should be focusing on governance, economic relief, and the concerns of ordinary citizens rather than escalating political disputes.
“We have serious things taking place in this country right now,” he said. “People are suffering.”
Doran concluded by emphasizing that Parliament and the public require “government answers, not political answers,” warning that failure to clearly define the boundaries between leadership, interference, public interest, and personal interest could leave the country’s governance system vulnerable.
The parliamentary session remains part of a broader political dispute that has intensified in recent weeks and continues to dominate public discussion in St. Maarten.
