Unbiased look at the Sint Maarten Elections
St. Maarten – The People’s Progressive Alliance (PPA) of Don Hughes will not be allowed to contest the February 9 elections. This appears from a decision by the electoral council.
Already in the day Hughes came to the council’s offices on Back Street to register the party it appeared that there was a problem. The PPA is registered as a foundation and the electoral law stipulates that political parties must be registered as an association.
“Legal entities other than an association cannot be a political party and cannot be registered as such,†the council ruled.
On the other hand, the St. Maarten Development Movement of Benjamin Ortega, did present the right credentials and has now been registered by the Electoral Council. The party will appear on the ballot with the reference SDM.
Owenal Plummer, who came to the electoral council with a confused mind and a party-name longer than Front Street was already denied on the last day of registration.
For four other parties – Hope, the Beyond SXM Development party, the St. Maarten Christian Party and the Millennial Advancement Party SXM – the decision by the Electoral council is still pending.
Yesterday, the Central Voting bureau closed the voting register. Elegible to vote on February 9 are those who were residents of St. Maarten on November 23, have the Dutch nationality and have reached the age of 18 on the day of the vote.
Citizens are entitled to inform at the Census Office whether they are registered. They may also ask this information for others if they have power of attorney. As it appeared last year in court, political parties are not entitled to obtain a complete copy of the voters register.
For adjustments of the register, citizens can turn to the Court in First Instance. A form for submitting such a request is available at no cot at the Census Office.
Attorney Jason Rogers has again been appointed as the chairman of the Central Voting Bureau.
