Unbiased look at the Sint Maarten Elections
~ Office hours extended for submissions ~
PHILIPSBURG--With the deadline looming, just over half (58 per cent) of the 125 candidates who contested the September 26 Parliamentary Elections have submitted their donation registrations to the Electoral Council. The deadline is Wednesday, October 26.
Seventy-three of the 125 candidates have complied with their legal obligations as of Monday evening, according to the Council.
The United People’s (UP) party, headed by Member of Parliament (MP) Theo Heyliger, is the only party from which the donations registration for all 23 candidates has been submitted. That submission was made on October 19.
On October 21, the Electoral Council requested the representatives of the political parties to urge all candidates to submit their donation registrations to the Electoral Council no later than Wednesday, October 26 to ensure compliance with the National Ordinance on Registration and Finances of Political Parties.
The Electoral Council issued a reminder again on Monday to all candidates who have not yet submitted their donation registrations that Wednesday is the final date to do so.
Candidates who did not receive any donations must also complete the form, date, sign and submit it to the Electoral Council by the deadline.
To accommodate candidates with the submission of their donation registrations before the deadline, the Electoral Council has extended its office hours and will be open today, Tuesday and Wednesday from 9:00am to 5:30pm.
Candidates are reminded that the Electoral Council is not responsible for completing the registrations. Candidates who have trouble completing the form digitally should contact their parties for assistance.
Non-compliant candidates are informed that sanctions for non-compliance of the National Ordinance, will include the publication of their names in all mass media.
Elected Members to Parliament are reminded that they will not be able to take the oath of office to assume their position in Parliament if they fail to comply with the law.
The Electoral Council will also consider giving an order subject to penalty to enforce compliance as laid down in Article 33 and 37, Subsection 2 of the National Ordinance.
Candidates who did not receive the email with instructions on how to access the database in order to complete their donation registration digitally, should contact the Electoral Council office on Backstreet 145b as soon as possible, or by telephone 543-9888 and 543-9889 or by e-mail: info@ecsxm.org .
