PHILIPSBURG:--- Several members of the National Alliance joined the party leader William Marlin on Thursday afternoon at a press conference held at Holland House where the National Alliance unveiled their redesigned logo. National Alliance member and former Minister of Education Silveria Jacobs said the redesigning of the logo was necessary even though the colors of the new logo is the same, it has a new twist which she said signals innovation, movement and growing of the National Alliance. She said National Alliance had a rainbow but the new logo symbolizes movement and it's modern. One of the main reasons Jacobs said the party decided to redesign its logo is for the public to see what the National Alliance is all about both by the party's actions and its symbols.
Marlin said the National Alliance chose to redesign their logo in order to accommodate the younger generation. However, he made clear that the reason the National Alliance chose to have a rainbow with the map of St. Maarten in the past is because they believe as a party the interest of St. Maarten does not represent one color. The new logo Marlin said was designed by a local whose identity he did not release.
Marlin called on all members of the National Alliance to attend the party's congress which is scheduled for this Sunday at the Belair Community Center. The event he said will start at 2pm. Marlin did not give details on the program the National Alliance has in store for Sunday's event. He said most of it will be a surprise for the members of the National Alliance. On Sunday the board members of the National Alliance will be elected, the leader and deputy leader, members of the 16 district councils and the campaign committee will also be installed. Marlin said the National Alliance will recognize one of its members on Sunday but that too he said is a surprise. A speaker whose name he did not release and the theme for the congress will be made known on Sunday.
PM was Vague in her Reasons for wanting Outside Supervision for 2014 Elections.
In response to a question posed by SMN News as to what is the opinion of the National Alliance with regards to the call made by the Democratic Party (Prime Minister) to bring in outside forces to monitor the 2014 elections. Marlin said that he does not have all the details surrounding the Prime Minister's call but he believes that she supposedly has fundamental reasons for making such a call. Marlin further stated that everyone knows that people spend lots of monies during the campaign and people are given monies and other things for their vote. He said this is clear because some police officers are now before the courts for selling their votes during the 2010 elections.
The Member of Parliament said that it is quite disturbing that the justice system took four years to take the case before the courts but even though it took that long it shows that St. Maarten has what it needs to curb any type of illegalities during elections. "If nothing was done about this then there would have been reasons to say that anything could happen on St. Maarten and nothing is done, but that is not the case."
Marlin said in 2010 they heard stories that persons used dummy ballots and cameras to take photos to show politicians who they voted for. He believes that removing the curtains for the voting booths would address that problem. Marlin said that the Prime Minister has to be clearer and she needs to tell the people of St. Maarten why there is need to bring in the United Nations or Transparency International to monitor the 2014 parliamentary elections.
He said that for the first time the legislations regarding campaign spending will apply. However, he believes that something has to be done to create a balance with air time on the various talk shows both on television and radio. "Right now the party that has the most money buys all the airtime out from all the shows and that leaves the other political parties that does not have as much money in a peculiar situation."
Member of Parliament Louis Laviest also shared the same sentiments stating that everyone knows what took place in 2010 in Pointe Blanche. He said everyone knows that certain politicians pay for votes but he too feels that the Prime Minister needs to ensure that the legislations that are in place are enforced for the 2014 parliamentary election. Laveist also expressed disappointment with the Public Prosecutor's Office who took almost four years to prosecute those that were caught buying or selling their votes in 2010.
