The statement by Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs that “as far as I know we have majority support in Parliament” during last Wednesday’s press briefing illustrated the current political confusion. The NA/UP coalition lost two seats when Members of Parliament (MPs) Solange Duncan and Ludmila de Weever declared their independence from respectively National Alliance (NA) and United People’s (UP) party.
What’s more, President of Parliament Grisha Heyliger-Marten (UP) voted for a motion of no confidence from the opposition benches against Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure VROMI Egbert Doran (NA). He was saved by support from the remaining NA faction William Marlin, George Pantophlet, Angelique Romou and Hyacinth Richardson, UP’s Rolando Brison and Sidharth Bijlani plus Chanel Brownbill on behalf of United St. Maarten party (US Party) and independent MP Akeem Arrindell.
The latter eight names now form the new de-facto coalition with a minimal majority in the 15-seat house. However, plans to remove Heyliger-Marten as chair were abandoned, with her husband and UP founder Theo Heyliger publicly stating his disapproval while another UP faction member, presumably Bijlani, reportedly expressed reservations.
Heyliger-Marten has not declared herself independent, but refrained from signing an agreement to bring Brownbill and Arrindell into the coalition. This raises doubt whether the entire remaining UP faction is still included.
Experience shows that dealing with a chairperson who isn’t necessarily part of the coalition does not make governing easier, so it will be interesting to see how this relationship develops. In any case a joint release by “the NA and UP leadership” (see related story) has now confirmed the addition of Brownbill and Arrindell.
That does not answer all questions, but provides some clarity, which is the least voters deserve.
