Marlin was commenting on the ongoing investigations into "possible corruption" against independent Member of Parliament (MP) Patrick Illidge who was seen on videotape accepting money from adult entertainment club manager Jaap van den Heuvel apparently in exchange for arranging permits/licenses.

 

Marlin said St. Maarten is a young democracy and over the past couple of days, the democratically established institutions of checks and balances have been and are being put to the test. The competent authorities, he said, have already started doing their job and he is confident in the process. "There are many questions in the minds of our people and they deserve to get answers," Marlin said.

 

Illidge is a partner of the governing coalition.