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PHILIPSBURG--The United People’s (UP) party-led coalition submitted its 2014-2018 Governing Programme, titled “Ready To Work For You†to Government on Thursday. The presentation comes one day ahead of the coalition’s ninth month in office and almost seven months after the Marcel Gumbs cabinet took office.
UP deputy leader Member of Parliament (MP) Franklin Meyers, MP Tamara Leonard (UP) and independent MPs Leona Romeo-Marlin and Cornelius de Weever presented the Governing Programme to Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs and Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication (TEATT) Minister Claret Connor on behalf of the UP/De Weever/Marlin-Romeo/United St. Maarten Party coalition.
The programme will serve as a roadmap for Government to follow to achieve the projects and changes the coalition wants for the country.
“The coalition partners possess a shared desire to work in our national interest and as such, the ‘Ready To Work For You’ Governing Programme essentially forms the terms of reference governing the coalition,†according to the coalition partners.
The “immediate task†facing Government “will be to improve the quality of life of the people of St. Maarten, provide good governance through effective representation, greater transparency and improved accountability, establish stronger fiscal discipline, promote sustainable development and economic growth,†said the coalition partners.
The coalition “commits to exercising adequate control over Government’s policy and projects,†as well as cooperating in the realisation of new legislation and amending existing ordinances. “This will be achieved by a participatory approach to open government, mobilising and engaging our communities and stakeholders so that everyone can contribute to the development of our people and country, some of which are already underway.â€
The coalition development agenda is “a people-centred one that seeks to bring relief and opportunities to all, particularly the most vulnerable in our society.â€
The Governing Programme “comes at a defining moment in our nation’s history when our democracy, autonomy and identity as a young nation are being tested. Nevertheless, we are confident that our people have the will, capacity and determination to build a strong, unified and healthy self-governing nation that embraces fairness, freedom, respect for the rule of law and equality,†said the coalition partners.
The coalition submitted its governing accord to Governor Eugene Holiday on September 25, 2014. That declaration forms the basis for the “Ready To Work For You†Governing Programme, which summarises the coalition’s objectives, goals, priorities, initiatives and plans “to build a better and brighter St. Maarten.â€
