It appears the curtain has now definitely come down on the United Democrats (UD)/St. Maarten Christian Party (SMCP) government. After then UD faction leader Franklin Meyers recently withdrew his support and became an independent Member of Parliament (MP), his two former party colleagues Luc Mercelina and Chanel Brownbill not only followed suit but formed a new coalition with National Alliance (NA) and United St. Maarten Party (US Party) for a combined nine out of 15 seats.
The subsequent resignation of UD acting leader Sarah Wescot-Williams as President of Parliament seems to confirm a change in the balance of power. Whether the latter will ultimately have the desired result remains to be seen, because indications are that the Romeo-Marlin Cabinet may move to dissolve the legislature by national decree and force early elections, as happened on several occasions since obtaining country status within the Kingdom of the Netherlands per 10-10-10.
Although the uncertainty in government created by Meyers’ action was mentioned as reason by those involved this latest move, all but one of them contributed to such by adopting a motion of no confidence against then-Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labour Emil Lee (UD). Many at the time already felt the end was near.
The visit of Dutch State Secretary of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations Raymond Knops, who is scheduled to meet with Parliament this week, ensures these developments won’t go unnoticed in The Hague. It’s important for this incoming majority but also the outgoing government to send a reassuring message about sticking to agreements on the continued recovery from Hurricane Irma with the Dutch-sponsored Trust Fund managed by the World Bank, liquidity assistance, etc.
No matter how you look at it, that help is still very much needed and nothing to play politics with. Indeed, it has taken too long for several significant projects to get underway, but to further delay or even stop them now makes absolutely no sense.
