HARBOUR VIEW--Snap elections will now be held on September 26, 2016, and not February 9, 2016, as the Marcel Gumbs Cabinet had wanted. That national decree was amended on Monday when Governor Eugene Holiday affixed his signature to the William Marlin Cabinet’s decree that contains new dates for elections and the dissolution of Parliament.
The Marlin’s Cabinet decree was sent to the Governor on Monday, December 14. The decree entered into force immediately.
“As a result there can be no further discussion as to whether early elections will be held on September 26, 2016,” according to the Governor’s Cabinet. The Governor hopes “this offers a balanced and sustainable resolution to the current differences of opinion and appeals to the members of Parliament, Government, and public to join forces and work to address the challenges our country faces aimed at serving the interest of the people of St. Maarten.”
The Governor’s announcement Monday evening about the signing of the new decree ended more than a month of speculation about whether the Gumbs Cabinet’s decree would be left to stand by the new Coalition and the Governor.
The Governor said in his statement that after evaluation of the draft national decree, he signed it thus making Nomination Day August 8, 2016, and the dissolution of Parliament on Monday, October 31, 2016.
The William Marlin Cabinet, supported by the Coalition of Eight, was not in favour of snap elections on February 9, 2016. The Coalition, created on September 30, had passed a motion of no confidence against the Marcel Gumbs Cabinet that same day.
The Marcel Gumbs Cabinet had retaliated just hours later by submitting its decree to call snap elections and dissolve Parliament. After some adjustments, the Governor had signed that desire for elections into force on October 30. That decree has now been adjusted with the new date for elections.
