Unbiased look at the Sint Maarten Elections
The individual votes-count of Friday's election that only became fully available late Saturday afternoon makes for some interesting reading (see related story). For one thing, UP leader Theo Heyliger confirmed he is by far the most popular politician in St. Maarten, earning 1,925 personal votes, almost twice as many as his closest competitor Silveria Jacobs of the NA with 966.
That the latter, as number three candidate, surpassed her party leader William Marlin (735) is also notable. What possible long-term implications this may have is obviously for NA and its membership to decide, but there had been a similar situation with Heyliger and DP leader Sarah Wescot-Williams not too long ago.
The current prime minister turns out to be the fifth biggest vote-getter with 695 after Heyliger, Jacobs, Marlin and US Party leader Frans Richardson with 722. Sixth was Franklin Meyers (UP) with 611, seventh Silvio Matser (UP) with 491, eighth George Pantophlet (NA) with 394, ninth Cornelius de Weever (DP) with 378 and 10th Maurice Lake (UP) with 305.
Some might wonder why, with Heyliger receiving so many more votes than all the others and UP winning seven of the 15 seats in Parliament, he and his party seem to be headed for the opposition benches. However, that is how the local parliamentary democracy functions.
In this case NA (four), DP (two) and US Party (two) have teamed up for eight seats and thus a minimal majority so they can form the new government. Roughly the same thing happened four years ago when UP (six) and DP (two) kept out NA (seven) as the largest party.
It must be said, also in 2010 Heyliger already was the biggest vote-getter and his supporters will be disappointed, but it's not a presidential system and what's taking place now is completely in keeping with the rules of the game by which all must play. In any case the UP should be a strong force in Parliament with the opposition leader in its ranks.
As for the apparently incoming NA/DP/US coalition, seeing the seat allocation a 3/2/2 division is most probable for the seven ministers, with NA also likely to receive the chair of Parliament and deliver the prime minster, who could be Marlin, but not necessarily.
Important is for both the executive and legislative branches to work hard towards sound financial management, keeping the tourism economy strong and tackling the many social issues the country still faces, together with the private sector where possible.
