PHILIPSBURG:--- The two political parties that got five seats each in parliament did not waste any time in forming a government. The leaders and deputy leaders of the two parties namely William Marlin and Silveria Jacobs from the National Alliance along with Theodore Heyliger and Franklin Meyers from the United Peoples Party signed a coalition agreement shortly after the results were announced.
Up to early Tuesday morning neither of the party leaders could be reached for a comment but SMN News managed to obtain a photograph of the four political leaders and deputy leaders holding up the signed documents. Sources told SMN News that Marlin announced the news in a Whatsapp chat to all his party members and promised to explain them the reasons for his decision in a meeting later today at 1pm. SMN News tried contacting Marlin several times early Tuesday morning for a comment but he could not be reached.
According to a well-placed source, Marlin chose to form a coalition with one party that will give the government of St. Maarten a 10 seat majority. SMN News also learn that Marlin chose this route because of severe pressure he was receiving from his current coalition partners most of whom threatened they will not work with him if he chose to bring back Finance Minister Richard Gibson. SMN News learn that the National Alliance (NA) sealed an agreement for the following Ministries; Prime Minister, Finance, Education and VROMI, while the United Peoples Party (UPP) got the Ministries of TEATT, Plenipotentiary, Labor and Justice. The source further stated that the agreement was signed at 6am on Tuesday morning.
