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PHILIPSBURG--Governor Eugene Holiday started new formation talks on Thursday after United People's (UP) party leader Theodore Heyliger submitted a signed "coalition agreement" for the governing period 2014-2018.
The agreement was signed by UP's seven elected Members of Parliament (MPs) and Democratic Party ((DP)) MP-elect Cornelius de Weever.
Holiday said in a press release that in view of these developments, National Alliance (NA) leader William Marlin had informed him that the majority in Parliament necessary for the formation of the planned NA/(DP)/US Party coalition government no longer existed. Marlin therefore thanked Holiday for having requested him to take on the task as formateur and decided to cease his activities to form a government.
Based on the new circumstances, Holiday "immediately" decided to start new consultations to arrive at the formation of a new Cabinet. "These consultations have taken place today [Thursday – Ed.] with the leaders of all the political parties who will have a seat in Parliament as from October 10, 2014, and with the vice-chairperson of the Advisory Council."
Holiday said he now was considering "further steps to be taken" based on Thursday's consultations.
De Weever had informed (DP) party leader Sarah Wescot-Williams earlier this week that he no longer wanted to continue as minister of health in the new government, but wanted to take up his parliamentary seat. It could not be ascertained whether he has severed ties with the (DP) since then.