PHILIPSBURG--The new United Democrats/St. Maarten Christian Party (SMCP) cabinet should take office before July 2, three months after the current Parliament was sworn in by Governor Eugene Holiday. This is the belief of coalition Member of Parliament (MP) Sarah Wescot- Williams.
Speaking at a Parliament press conference on Wednesday afternoon, she said she “hopes and believes” the matter of screening and ministers will be solved before July 2. That date is significant not only because it is three months after the Parliamentary tern started, but it is the date by which the only minister who is also an MP must surrender one of his roles.
The Constitution allows a minister, in this case Public Health Minister Emil Lee, to hold the function of minister and MP for a maximum of three months. In the reverse scenario, an MP who takes up the post as minister must resign earlier.
As to the coalition’s governing programme, Wescot-Williams said the process to polish it up is “sort of at the end.”
