Unbiased look at the Sint Maarten Elections
PHILIPSBURG--A full mandate for the United People's (UP) party, not a coalition government, in Friday's Parliamentary Elections was collective message of the party's 23 candidates to supporters at the final public meeting of the campaign held on the ring road Wednesday night.
UP leader Theo Heyliger told the gathering that from the start of the campaign all the other political parties had focused their attack on UP. "We had judges, prosecutors, even our own government against us, but come Friday the people will decide if I am not capable" to lead the country.
He called for the incoming UP Members of Parliament and new Council of Ministers to know "the true meaning of partnership" without having to worry about the government falling because of coalition partners.
"Time to put one party in government and make one party responsible," he said.
With a full mandate of eight or more seats in Parliament, Heyliger said UP would build houses, reduce energy cost and construct a new hospital. "I don't promise you, I guarantee you a new hospital. It is time get a new hospital; not a new paint job, not a new pillowcase, a new hospital."
He apologised for not delivering on his promise to complete the ring road, saying the project had suffered because UP had been "unceremoniously kicked out of office" after only 19 months in the first coalition. Completion of this project is on UP's agenda.
UP needs a full mandate in the election, he said, because "it is time my people have to stop crying and begging for better representatives. It is time to wake up, stand up and vote up. ... It is time to take government and put it back in the hands of the people. ... The power of the people is immense."
The past four years have shown that neither the "red party" nor the "white party" work. "All they can do is talk. It is time for them to shut up and start working for the people."
Commenting on constant statements throughout the campaign about his only being for his family, Heyliger said he wanted to admit that he was protecting his family. That family, he said, is the people of St. Maarten. He said his family extended farther than just St. Maarten. "I have a big family. ... My family is also the French side, Anguilla, Saba, Statia and St. Kitts."
Heyliger called the UP's other 22 candidates on stage with him and requested that they individually promise in front of the gathering to stay loyal to the people of St. Maarten and to the party. He also made the same pledge and reiterated his declaration that he would be prime minister once UP received a full mandate.
UP's number two candidate President of Parliament Gracita Arrindell, like other candidates, urged people to vote on Friday – for UP. She expounded on the necessity to stay committed to the party and continuing the work to build the country.
UP deputy leader former minister Franklin Meyers said the party and its candidates had shown their commitment to the people and country. "We need serious people to govern this country." UP is "committed to progress" for the country and its people, he said.
MP Dr. Lloyd Richardson said the country and its people "deserved better care" not only infrastructure-wise, but with more quality people to take care of the needs of patients. He said that for the hospital and other projects to become reality there needed to be "cohesion" between Parliament and the Council of Ministers and "not coalition."
Aside from all of the candidates sharing their vision and plans to better the country, the party put on a show featuring a line-up of St. Maarten talent, motorbikes suspended in the air on a low-bed, acrobats, dancers and a special appearance by Kermit the Frog with a message to voters to "vote green."
A deluge of rain did not stop the meeting or send people running for shelter. The crowd stayed put and jammed together with the candidates on stage to a medley of party songs from this and the 2010 elections.
The one bad note of the evening was a party board member slipping and falling off the stage. Dr. Lloyd Richardson and other emergency personnel tended to her before she was taken to St. Maarten Medical Centre for further treatment.
