OMC leader Olivier Arrindell and members of his team at the Government Building. (John Halley photo)
PHILIPSBURG--Oualichi Movement for Change (OMC) and Soualiga Action Movement (SAM) on Wednesday secured sufficient signatures to contest the August 19, snap parliamentary elections on Endorsement Day held at the Department of Civil Registry at the Government Building from 9:00am to 4:00pm. Each party had to obtain a total of 144 signatures from eligible voters and both parties surpassed this number.
Chairperson of the Central Voting Bureau Nathalie Tackling speaking to a reporter at the Government Building. (John Halley photo)
SAM was the first to reach the 144 signature target by the 11:00am update, when it obtained 166 signatures. Once it reached its threshold, the SAM team actively stopped and left the Government Building as was agreed to in a meeting with the Central Voting Bureau. The agreement was made in order to allow the Census Office to continue to provide regular service to the public. Although SAM left, by 4:00pm it had obtained 185 signatures.
SAM leader Franklin Meyers and some candidates at the Government Building. (John Halley photo)
OMC reached its target by the 1:00pm update with 164 signatures and by 4:00pm OMC had obtained 215 signatures.
By 4:00pm, Empire Culture Empowerment (ECE) had only obtained 27 signatures. ECE will get another opportunity to get the required number of signatures today, Thursday, at the Census Office from 9:00am to 4:00pm.