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Up Cautioned About Holding Elections During Hurricane Season

UPP
HOPE
Source: SXMIslandTime 04 Aug 2014 12:19 AM
PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten – The board of the United People's Party (UP) is grateful that minimum affects has been experienced with the passage of Tropical Storm Bertha on Friday night into Saturday, and that there was no major incidents. "However, several campaign posters came down due to gusty winds associated with the tropical storm. Our leader the Honourable Theodore Heyliger cautioned the Honourable Prime Minister Sarah Wescot-Williams about hosting elections during the hurricane season for these same reasons. With a few more weeks to go for this election campaign we can only HOPE no more tropical systems affects our country," the UP board concluded. UP Leader Theodore Heyliger made his call in March 2014 advising not to have elections in the hurricane season with the reasoning that it was better to err on the side of safety and caution than try to do battle with the weather. The UP Leader made reference to the 2010 election campaign where political parties had to battle with several weather events where it concerns election paraphernalia. Elections took place as scheduled in 2010 without being threatened by a storm, and Heyliger says consideration should be given to the safety of the people and it makes more sense to hold elections outside the hurricane season or within the first month of the season, June when it's still quiet.. "Elections costs money and it's the people's money that is used to plan and organize elections, so it should be spent wisely and taking into consideration events of nature. It's better to have elections before the season or in June rather than in the peak of the season and you have to postpone the date due to the threat of a hurricane. "Such a postponement causes un-necessary disruptions. Various buildings including many schools are used as polling stations, and this is one disruption," Leader of the UP Theodore Heyliger pointed out. In Photo: DP candidates billboards all flattened out due to gusty winds associated with the passing of Tropical Storm Bertha. (FB Photo) Sarah Wescot-Williams mentioned 1 time
Theodore Heyliger mentioned 3 times

United People's Party [UPP] mentioned 1 time
Helping Our People Excel Association [HOPE] mentioned 1 time
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