It appears the government of St. Maarten has once again ended up in a state of uncertainty (see related story). While in the recent past such situations had mainly concerned “Mexican standoffs” – as former NA-leader William Marlin phrased them – between a caretaker Cabinet and a “new majority” in Parliament wanting to take over, this time it regards different legal interpretations by respectively the Governor and President of Parliament Sarah Wescot-Williams.
Although the latter expressed hope of preventing an impasse, that might very well be the result. After all, Jules James’ pending appointment as substitute for Member of Parliament (MP) in pretrial detention – and thus suspended – Theo Heyliger cannot take place without the cooperation of a legislative majority, which the current UD/SMCP coalition no longer has without him.
It works both ways, of course, because with a 7-7 tie in seats the factions on either side of the aisle can effectively boycott meetings desired by the other at least temporarily and further obstruct the very functioning of the “House of the People.” Approval of the already-late draft 2019 budget and more related liquidity support from the Netherlands could also be at stake.
In such a scenario one cannot exclude that the Council of Ministers may eventually be prompted to move for dissolution and – yet another – snap election. However, many will probably agree that this does not seem the most opportune moment for an early return to the polls.
The urgent plenary session now called for Monday should prove whether this matter was just a small inconvenience or becomes a full-blown political crisis effectively leaving the country in limbo, with possible consequences for the ongoing Dutch-funded recovery process. Every elected representative having taken an oath of office to always act in the best general interest and according to their own good conscience will need to make that call.
