Philipsburg:--- The Green Party, which sources say may be named the St. Maarten Democratic Alliance, is now gaining strength as several key politicians in the community are planning to join force with Commissioner Theo Heyliger.
SMN News has learnt that Christopher Emanuel is now part of the Green Party as he negotiated with Heyliger and sealed a deal.
SMN News further understands that Johan Janchi Leonard who ran on the People’s Progressive Alliance (PPA) list is also part of the new kid on the block. It is not clear if Gracita Arrindell is going to leave her party and join Heyliger even though she is making sure she has a board and other requirements in place so that she can contest the 2010 election under the PPA banner if negotiations failed. Arrindell already held talks with Heyliger, the leader of the Democratic Party as well as with the leader of the National Alliance.
Sources close to Heyliger and the Wathey family has said that Heyliger would not join with any other party and he would at all cost form his own party using the color green. It is understood that Heyliger wants the people of St. Maarten to remember him and his grandfather the late Dr. Claude Wathey in a special way.
The late Dr. Wathey began his political career under the Nationale Volks Party (NVP), which used the green color and ended his career with the Democratic Party, (Red) while Heyliger would do the same thing in opposite direction. Heyliger started his political career under the red banner and he intended to close it off with green.
The only difference with Heyliger is that he would be the leader of the latter party, which is forming for the upcoming elections. On July 24th the commissioner said he already had the foundation of his party and was now adding floors meaning he was busy negotiating with politicians he believe has St. Maarten in their best interest.
