Unbiased look at the Sint Maarten Elections
~ Governing programme finalised ~
CAY HILL--The incoming coalition partners have completed the governing programme and will be presenting it to formateur William Marlin today, Wednesday. Marlin is expected to report to Governor Eugene Holiday on the formation of the new government on the deadline today.
St. Maarten United Ministerial Foundation (SMUMF) President Pastor Wycliffe Smith, who met with the coalition leaders and their representatives as they finalised the document at Bearing Point yesterday, urged the coalition to "make it work."
He said a coalition of three was much more challenging than a coalition of two, noting that in this case the margin was thin as there was just a one-seat majority. "Therefore it behooves the coalition partners to bend over backward to make it work. There are people who are waiting and expecting for this coalition to fail. Make it work; only you can make it work," Smith said.
"People waiting for Marlin, Wescot-Williams and Richardson to be at odds with each other and disagree publicly. Only you can make it work. Therefore, agree to disagree agreeably. You won't always see eye-to-eye, but agree to disagree agreeably."
He said people were expecting in-fighting amongst party members, but the coalition partners should "make it work. ... Be a team member, a team player, a team supporter."
The pastor said the people of St. Maarten were "tired" of "government changes, ship-jumping and media wars. ... People are hoping that the coming government and parliament will be examples of good governance, transparent governance and expedient governance.
"The country St Maarten is longing for righteous leaders; i.e., those who will do what is right not according to their own standard, but according to the moral standards of the Good Book.
"We don't want people to be always groaning, moaning and complaining in the next four governing years. Being a nation founded on Christian principles, St. Maarten deserves a parliament and a government that will govern with honesty, integrity and transparency, where the people come first and self-enrichment is denied," he said.
Smith said prayers had been held during the campaign and on Election Day for "God's will be done," for peaceful elections and for St. Maarten to get the government it needs.
He said "God has allowed" a coalition government to form, as no party had won a majority at the polls. He said the National Alliance, Democratic Party and United St. Maarten (US) Party had decided to come together to work on behalf of the people and he offered prayers for the three parties to work together and to receive wisdom, guidance and direction.
Smith's prayers were offered with the backing of SMUMF, the Christian Council of Churches and the Seventh-Day Adventist Churches. He said the various church leaders would continue to pray for the coalition government "because this is what the word of God commands us: to pray for those in authority."
