Philipsburg:--- The last Island Council Election held on Friday has left a number of politicians disappointed while some of them are truly angry at the outcome of the results which was given early Saturday morning. It is clear that both the National Alliance and the United People's Party had preferred they had the majority seats to form the first parliament.
The race between the NA and the UP was a close one, the National Alliance won in 14 out of the 16 districts, yet they were not able to muster enough votes to get the eight seats that are required to form a majority government.
While the people have spoken and they have given the National Alliance a mandate to remain in government by awarding them with seven out of the 15 seats in parliament it is still not enough for the National Alliance to form the government by themselves. Leader of the National Alliance William Marlin said his party will begin talks as early as Saturday to form the next government since the members of parliament must be sworn in by October 5th. He called on the other political parties to bury the hatchet since the elections is now over and they should all get to work in the interest of St. Maarten. Marlin said there is a huge amount of work ahead of St. Maarten and politicians must know that the campaign is over and much work is ahead of them.
The United People's Party headed by Theodore Heyliger managed to secure six seats, while the Democratic Party headed by Sarah Wescott Williams secured two seats. Wescott Williams indicated shortly after the results were announced that her party will cooperate as much as possible to form the next government as early as possible, while Heyliger said he too would begin talks to form the government. Even though the National Alliance has won this election, they can well end up on the opposition benches if the Democratic Party and the United People's Party should team up to form the government with eight out of the 15 seats parliament.As it stands now the leader of the Democratic Party Sarah Wescott Williams and Leroy Petrus de Weever are the ones to decide with whom they would form the next government and most importantly the two would have to decide whom they see fit to manage the affairs of the people now that St. Maarten has taken on a new role within the Kingdom.
The Democratic Party during the campaign trail said they are the most experienced of all the all candidates that postulated for this election. However the leader of the DP will also have to use her experience and wisdom to decide with whom she would share her golden keys since the voters have placed her in the position to decide with whom she will work.The UP leader Theodore Heyliger is the largest vote getter in this final island council election.
Based on the outcome of the election the 15 persons that would form the first parliament for country St. Maarten are as follows.
From the National Alliance Slate
- William Marlin
- Frans Richardson
- Patrick Illidge
- Dr. Lloyd Richardson
- George Pantophlet
- Louie Laveist
- Hyacinth Richardson
United Peoples Party
- Theodore Heyliger
- Gracita Arrindell
- Sylvia Meyers Olivacce
- Romain Laville
- Jules James
- Rhoda Arrindell
Democratic Party
- Sarah Wescott Williams
- Petrus Leroy De Weever
Theodore Heyliger received 2,912 votes, while William Marlin received 1,590 and Sarah Wescott William 1368, while Jeffry Richardson from the Concordia Political Alliance captured 115.
SMN News will bring more on the last election for the island territory of St. Maarten and the first for country St. Maarten in our next edition of the news.
