Unbiased look at the Sint Maarten Elections
PHILIPSBURG--At least two donors to political parties have exceeded the legally stipulated financial donations to political parties.
Electoral Council Chairman Bert Hofman told The Daily Herald excess donations were made on at least three occasions.
Hofman declined to give the political parties that received the excess donations and the names of the donors. He explained that the parties and donors have not yet been officially informed by the council. That notification will be sent out this week.
In any calendar year based on Article 41 of National Ordinance on the Registration and Financing of Political Parties, donations made to the same political party by a person, company or institution shall not exceed a total sum or value of NAf. 30,000.
Also in a calendar year, donations made to a candidate of a political party by a person, company or institution shall not exceed a total sum or value of. NAf 20,000.
Donations made to the same political party and to candidates of that same political party by a person, company or institution shall not exceed a total sum of NAf. 50,000.
Donations in excess of the maximum set in paragraphs 1, 2 or 3 shall not be accepted or shall be returned to the donor.
Article 42 of the same ordinance states cash donations to a political party or a candidate in excess of NAf. 5,000 are prohibited.
Speaking about the fine issued to United St. Maarten Party (USP) for failing to submit its annual report and financial statements, Hofman said the party will be fined NAf. 3,000. The fine covers Saturday, Sunday and Monday although USP submitted its documents on Monday.
The fine, according to Hofman, applied to each day or part thereof the party did not comply with its legal requirement.
USP, led by Member of Parliament Frans Richardson, will receive the request to pay the fine in the coming days.
USP was the only one of the eight political parties that registered for the September 2014 Parliamentary Elections to receive a fine due to non-compliance with the National Ordinance on the Registration and Financing of Political Parties.
