Unbiased look at the Sint Maarten Elections
PHILIPSBURG--Outgoing Prime Minister and Democratic Party ((DP)) leader Sarah Wescot-Williams and United St. Maarten Party Member of Parliament (MP)-elect Leona Marlin-Romeo have joined the United People's (UP) party/De Weever coalition to form a broad-based government for 2014-2018.
The two new coalition members signed on to the existing UP/De Weever governing accord as "addendum two and three" on Thursday, paving the way for a majority of 10 seats in Parliament.
The news of, in particular, Marlin-Romeo joining the coalition comes after much speculation about this possibility taking place even after she publicly had denied any such intentions. "The point is I have not jumped ship. The point is I am standing next to Frans Richardson. ... I am not going anywhere," Marlin-Romeo had said in early September when the rumours first surfaced.
She added: "I am a woman of my word. The people supported me to stay where I am and I respect that. There is no need for Leona Marlin to cross over to any other political lines. I gave my word to Frans Richardson. There is assurance there. I don't have to doubt myself. I am a person of integrity and I am not going anywhere after US Party. You will see me here in 2018 as well."
However, she also had pointed out at the time that "there is not a government as yet," as the then-pending National Alliance (NA)/US Party/(DP) coalition government would become official only on October 10, when the MPs are sworn in and the ministers take office after screening.
It also had been suggested in the community that Wescot-Williams had brokered a new coalition agreement with UP in mid-September, in spite of (DP) being an integral part of the stillborn NA/US Party/(DP) coalition. It proved later that what many were referring to as the "Greece Accord" did not materialise, as (DP) stayed the course with that coalition only to see it die when MP-elect Cornelius de Weever signed on with UP to form the current coalition.
The NA/US Party/(DP) coalition was formed just before dawn on August 30, mere hours after the results of the country's first parliamentary elections were announced. Those results saw UP receiving the most seats (seven), but being thrust into opposition, while NA with four seats, US Party (two) and (DP) (two) had seemed destined to be the new government.
Formateur UP leader MP Theo Heyliger confirmed the additions to the coalition to The Daily Herald on Thursday night. He said his focus was on creating a broad-based government for stability of the country.
Heyliger said he had brokered the support of the two additional incoming MPs to form the new government based on Governor Eugene Holiday's request that he form a broad-based government.
"The focus is to create a strong and stable government that will work for the people without interruption for this new governing term. This is critical for the continued success and growth of our country," Heyliger said.
The 10 incoming MPs supporting the coalition are Heyliger, who is expected to become prime minister, Cornelius de Weever, Wescot-Williams, Marlin-Romeo, Franklin Meyers, Silvio Matser, Tamara E. Leonard, Maurice Lake, Dr. Lloyd Richardson and Johan "Janchi" Leonard.
This coalition of 10 leaves incoming NA Parliamentarians William Marlin (party leader), Silveria Jacobs, George Pantophlet and Christophe Emmanuel, and US Party leader MP Frans Richardson in opposition. All 15 incoming MPs, who are expected to serve for the next four years, are set to take the oath of office before Governor Holiday today, Friday.
