SXMElections.com

~ Several parties to return excess donations ~

PHILIPSBURG--The United St. Maarten Party (USP), led by Member of Parliament Frans Richardson, has already incurred NAf 2,000 in penalties as of Sunday from the Electoral Council for failing to submit its annual report and financial statements.

The party failed to comply with the National Ordinance on the registration and financing of political parties despite numerous reminders from the council before and after the deadline of April 1, for registered political parties to submit their annual reports.

“Therefore, USP has not complied with one of the most important legal obligations of political parties stipulated in the National Ordinance on Registration and Finances of Political Parties,” said the Electoral Council in a statement Sunday night.

On May 19, the Electoral Council sent a letter to USP leader MP Richardson and its board informing them that the council was considering issuing an order under penalty as is stipulated in Article 44 of the National Ordinance.

USP was granted the opportunity to respond to the Council’s impending order no later than Wednesday, May 27, as well as the opportunity to submit its annual report no later than Friday, May 29. The party was also warned in the letter that failure to do so would result in a penalty of NAf 1,000 for each day that the violation continues, with a maximum of NAf 30,000.

USP did not respond to the letter nor did it submit the annual report by the deadlines indicated, thus the Electoral Council has no other option but to impose the sanction stipulated in the National Ordinance.

Consequently, USP was informed by the Electoral Council on May 29 that the order under penalty has commenced on Saturday, May 30.

Political parties that submitted their annual report and financial statements by April 1 without the auditor’s report have been requested by the Electoral Council to submit the required auditor’s report and in some cases additional financial information to the Electoral Council by June 4.

During its review of the donation registrations of political parties, the Electoral Council noted that several parties received an excess of what is legally allowed in donations.

Both the donors who exceeded the donation limit and the parties will be informed about this matter within short. The parties will be requested to return to the donors the excess amount received, as is stipulated by law, and submit evidence thereof to the Electoral Council.