PHILIPSBURG — Informateurs Dr. Nilda Arduin and Drs. Candia Joseph have been unable to present a coalition of parties that represents the broadest possible support in Parliament. This appears from their report they submitted to Governor Ajamu Baly under the title Beyond the Coalition Handshake. [Read our review below….]
Editorial: Community involvement
Informateurs involve community in consultations
Governor appoints two informateurs
New coalition warns outgoing government against practicing departure policy
Coalition intends to align manifestos by February 3
Winners and losers: four top candidates were outvoted
Comfortable win for National Alliance
Four parties signed already a coalition agreement before the informateurs were appointed: NOW, URSM, PfP and DP. Arduin and Joseph nevertheless examined the viability of this coalition. “We could not establish the common goals, objectives and approaches, nor could we identify notable arguments and positions brought forward to support the formation of such a coalition.”
Whether this observation will have any effect on the formation of a new government remains to be seen, because the informateurs also report that the four parties prefer their coalition above all other options. Only the Party for Progress has left the door open for a coalition with the National Alliance and the Democratic Party.
The informateurs found, not surprisingly, that there is no substantial difference in ideology between the six parties that won seats in the January 11 elections. The report states that the attempt at seeking the opinion of stakeholders to acquire community support for the formation did not yield the expected results.
The informateurs approached 45 community stakeholders with a questionnaire; only four of them declined to respond. The survey reveals the issues that are most important to the stakeholders: cost of living, completion of the new general hospital, GEBE challenges and education. Stakeholders consider the following issues unacceptable: corruption, lack of integrity, morals and values and unqualified Members of Parliament and ministers. Unqualified refers here to inadequate levels of education.
The informateurs also sent a questionnaire to the six political parties. Christophe Emmanuel’s NOW party did not respond. Elsewhere the report states that NOW considers the informateurs process as a superfluous exercise. Arduin and Joseph also interviewed the party leadership. The four parties that want to form a coalition went into such an interview together, the other parties spoke individually with the informateurs.
What was the result of these exercises? The report notes that there are no significant differences in the policies and programs the parties envision for St. Maarten. They all agree that it is important to establish a code of conduct for coalition members and a conflict resolution mechanism. Furthermore, all parties said that they adhere to democratic principles, the rule of law, good (corporate) governance and integrity. They will “prioritize public interest over party interest.”
Only the Democratic Party mentioned that it wants to address electoral reform, ship-jumping and the undermining of the party-political system.
The informateurs discovered that discussions about coalition-formation have been ongoing between MPs-elect on an individual basis outside of party-alliances.
The informateurs also analyzed the party-manifestos and they found quite some similarities. The report mentions twelve topics that surface in all of these documents. Among them are tax simplification, strengthening of the tourism industry, healthcare reform and the improvement of waste management.
Governor Baly will take a decision about the next step in the formation-process, based on the findings of Dr. Arduin and Drs. Joseph, his office stated in a press release.
Related links:
Download the Informateurs’ report here>>>
Editorial: Community involvement
Informateurs involve community in consultations
Governor appoints two informateurs
New coalition warns outgoing government against practicing departure policy
Coalition intends to align manifestos by February 3
Winners and losers: four top candidates were outvoted
Comfortable win for National Alliance
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Press Release Governor’s Cabinet
Date: February 2, 2024
Informateurs complete assignment and submit the final report to the Governor.
Harbour View – His Excellency the Governor of Sint Maarten, mr. Ajamu G. Baly, received the final report of the current information process from informateurs Dr. Nilda Arduin and Drs. Candia Joseph RO EMIA. The informateurs presented the Governor with their final report entitled ‘Beyond the coalition handshake’ which for the purpose of transparency will be published in its entirety. In their report, the informateurs have made an in-depth analysis of the positions of the six parties that have obtained one or more seats in the parliamentary elections of January 11, 2024. In doing so, they have taken into account the preliminary agreement between the NOW, DP, PFP and URSM parties to work on a coalition between them. The Governor has expressed his thanks to the two informateurs for their efforts on behalf of the country and will decide on the next steps to be taken in the formation of a new government based on their findings.
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