According to this article, people not legally residing on the island will NOT be allowed to vote in the upcoming Island council elections scheduled for later this year.
Let it be recorded here that we think we understand and agree with your premise for this measure, which has to do with election - fraud perpetrated for years by political parties.
However, as it is formulated, we can and will NEVER accept, St. Martiners, wherever they might reside, being denied the right to vote in their country of origin.
In addition, it is absolutely ridiculous and totally UN-ACCEPTABLE to us, that BECAUSE of the abuse non-St. Martiners were allowed to make by voting in our elections, that now EVERY non-St. Maarten resident will be barred, INCLUDING our own natives, who happen to reside outside the island or even on the other side of the island.
For the record as well, we consider the right to vote as one of the in-alienable rights of native-indigenous St. Martiners.
Especially, considering the overwhelming numbers of immigrants and naturalized citizens on the island, there MUST be special provisions in place for the people of this country, who are becoming marginalized in their own country, now with your backing as well.
We therefore urgently recommend that therefore, your proposal, which is definitely a step in the right direction, be more 'fine tuned' to do exactly what it should do, which is to PROTECT the natives of this island, including those who live outside our territory.
By the way, with due respect for Dutch State secretary Ank BIJLEVELD-SCHOUTEN's understandable concern in this regards, she too is very aware, if not very much involved in making sure that Dutch citizens residing OUTSIDE the Netherlands al participate in Dutch /European elections.
For more information, we refer you to our COMMENTARY on our website www.stmartinnation.org
Copies
State Secretary
UN.
Other relevant authorities
Leopold JAMES
President SNBF and Association L' esprit de Concordia.
