The resignation of Member of Parliament (MP) Ludmila Duncan (see related story) from National Alliance (NA) leaves the Jacobs II Cabinet with minimal majority backing of eight in the 15-seat house, of which four from governing partner United People’s (UP) Party. That does not need to be an issue, provided the remaining support is stable.
To be sure, governments including in the Netherlands have even run countries for some time with minority coalitions. Current Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte became known for negotiating individual laws through the Second and First Chambers of Parliament in The Hague from such a position.
However, arguments the former NA-faction member used for her actions raise questions. She wrote, “The party’s general direction and approach to public sector management, citizen engagement and policy-making often conflict with my core values.”
Readers are left to wonder to what extent this was discussed internally, but the unprecedented circumstances facing this Council of Ministers since taking office may have played a role, because St. Maarten was very much stuck between a rock and a hard place financially due to the COVID-19 crisis. That created a situation of perhaps having to accept certain things one normally wouldn’t, which not everyone will be equally comfortable with.
Of greater significance is the MP’s assertion that “ethical decision-making, transparency and good governance are principles that I have always lived and served by.” She called these “the bare minimum that the people of this country deserve especially in these challenging times.”
Also considering recent developments including the Ombudsman report on garbage contract tendering, those words spark some concern. After all, if the basic norms mentioned are not being adhered to enough as suggested, there is a serious problem that might to lead to more dissention.
Duncan is now becoming an independent parliamentarian along with her former faction colleague Christophe Emanuel as well as former United St. Maarten (US) Party faction member Akeem Arrindell. While that doesn’t mean she will oppose everything government presents, her general support is not to be counted on.
