Unbiased look at the Sint Maarten Elections
That just about anything is possible in local politics was proven again over these last few days, as DP leader Sarah Wescot-Williams and US Party number two candidate Leona Marlin-Romeo signed up for the incoming UP/De Weever coalition. While there had been plenty of speculation something was up, this late development still must have come as a surprise to many, including perhaps Governor Eugene Holiday who was about to swear in the 15 parliamentarians-elect for the 2014-2018 legislative term.
At this point one conceivably could even speak of a UP/DP/Marlin-Romeo coalition, because Cornelius de Weever never resigned from the DP – as the party repeatedly had pointed out – and no longer needs to go independent, as his only fraction colleague Wescot-Williams also joined the fray. She was even elected to the key position of President of Parliament, with Marlin-Romeo as Vice-President.
The good news is that the new cabinet still to be formed will not have just the minimal backing of eight seats, but rather of a two-thirds majority of 10 in the legislature. Generally speaking, that should promote a more stable government, although – considering all that's happened since voters went to the polls on August 29 – one never can be too sure.
It's not known yet who the future ministers will be, except that UP leader Theo Heyliger has stated publicly his intention to become the next prime minister, which in turn automatically would mean Maria Buncamper-Molanus entering Parliament in his place. What's also evident is that neither the two current DP fraction members nor Marlin-Romeo are going to become cabinet members.
The "formateur" was given until October 20 to file his report to the governor, but now that all electoral cards apparently have been played the process hopefully can be accelerated, so that the screening of candidate ministers may begin. With the writing clearly on the wall, it's probably best the first Heyliger cabinet takes office sooner rather than later, to end what has been a period of relative political uncertainty in St. Maarten.
