Unbiased look at the Sint Maarten Elections
St. Maarten News – Parliament President Sarah Wescot-Williams expects to receive the draft legislation to adjust the political system this week or next week Monday the latest. If the draft arrives on time, parliament has a slot open to handle it next week, the last week of meetings before the summer recess.
The government’s proposal intends to take the angle out of ship jumping, by taking away the right from ship jumping parliamentarians to form a majority with the opposition. Only the fractions of the parties that have been elected to parliament will be able to form such a majority. This would make it impossible for MPs to leave their faction and bring down a government.
The draft also includes an option for local students studying in the Netherlands to vote in elections in St. Maarten.
If the parliament handles and approves the legislation next week, and the governor ratifies it, the Ombudsman has six weeks to study the law and to decide whether it should be sent for review to the Constitutional Court. If the Ombudsman decides this is necessary, the changes will not go into effect before the elections of September 26.
