The change in leadership of United People’s (UP) Party after the recent election result (see related story) was no big surprise. Even though the party lost one of its four former seats, number 2 candidate Omar Ottley grew from 418 to 774 votes compared to four years ago, while number 1 Rolando Brison received only 254 and failed to win a seat, as Akeem Arrindell (353) and Francisco Lacroes (312) both got more.
It will be interesting to see what happens at UP’s coalition partner National Alliance (NA), which lost two of its six former seats. Number 2 Egbert Doran had more votes (538) than political leader Silveria Jacobs (467) for a second time, although he did lose more than 300 of his total back in 2020.
The same question could be asked regarding Party for Progress (PFP). They maintained their two seats, but newcomer (formerly UP) Ludmilla de Weever got 569 votes compared to 462 for party leader Melissa Gumbs.
As it appears both current governing parties NA and UP will be left out of government, there is no chance of their remaining candidates next in line getting into legislative office should a Member of Parliament (MP)-elect become minister. That is, however, different for the four parties with two seats each that already announced a new coalition United Resilient St. Maarten Movement (URSM), Democratic Party (DP), PFP and Nation Opportunity Wealth (NOW).
URSM received the General Affairs portfolio and party leader Dr. Luc Merelina (702 votes) has confirmed his willingness to serve as the country’s next prime minister. This would allow Richinel Burg (204 votes) into Parliament along with Sjamira Roseburg (247), but possibly also others if either of them were to become Minister of Pubic Health, Social Development and Labor VSA or even deputy Plenipotentiary Minister in The Hague. Next in line after Burg is Julian Rollocks Jr. (175)
As for the DP, it is not yet clear whether political leader Sarah Wescot-Williams (498 votes) and/or number 2 candidate Grisha Heyliger-Marten (323) will give up their respective seats to become Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication (TEATT) or Finance. Next candidates in line for the party that will also deliver the President of Parliament are Viren Kotai (249) and Khalil Revan (152).
As for PFP, if Gumbs and/or De Weever becomes Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure VROMI (and deputy prime minister) or Plenipotentiary Minister in The Hague, their seats would go to candidates next in line Raeyhon Peterson (257 votes) and Patrice Gumbs (128).
Where NOW is concerned, should party leader Christophe Emmanuel (453 votes) or Kevin Maingrette (248) become Minister of Justice or of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport (EYCS) this would open the door to Parliament for Lyndon Lewis (176) and if both become minister also Claudius Buncamper (117).
So, voters should not expect all 15 members sworn into the legislature on February 10 to stay there very long, because the parties in government have executive posts to fill.
