PHILIPSBURG:--- The area around the Civil Registry was indeed colorful on Monday as the leaders and supporters of the six political parties that submitted their lists to the Central Voting Bureau on Friday had to seek at least 138 registered voters to endorse their party to contest the 2014 Parliamentary Elections slated for August 29th, 2014.
Leader of the United Peoples Party Theodore Heyliger did everything first when it came to registering his party, submitting his list and also signing to endorse his party in order to maintain his slogan "We Ready".
Frans Ricardson (USP), Theodore Heyliger (UPP), Lenny Priest (OSPP), Jacinto Mock (SRP), Roy Marlin (DP) and William Marlin (NA) were all at the Civil Registry ensuring that their supporters were there to endorse their party. It was clear from the turn out that the National Alliance, United Peoples Party and the United St. Maarten Peoples Party (USP) did not have to spend the whole day at the Civil Registry as several of their supporters were there and signed as soon as the Civil Registry opened its door to start the process.
By 1pm on Monday the USP and DP had already secured over 150 endorsements even though the requirement was 138. The only party that seemed to have been struggling on Monday morning was the Social Reform Party (SRP) led by Jacinto Mock. Mock told SMN News that his supporters were at work and he had expected them to be at the Civil Registry during their lunch break. At 1pm Monday Mr. Van Assen of the Civil Registry said that the DP and USP had over 150 signatures, NA had 143, UPP 136, SRP 38 and OSPP 58. About an hour later the National Alliance, United St. Maarten Party, Democratic Party and the United Peoples Party had secured over 150 signatures each making them eligible to participate in the 2014 Parliamentary Elections. Van Assen confirmed to SMN News that NA, DP, USP and UPP secured the signatures that needed. He said that the SRP and OSPP were still lacking signatures but when they close off the Civil Registry will send the figures to the Central Voting Bureau for them to take the decision on how many political parties will participate in the 2014 Parliamentary Elections.
Leader of the United Peoples Party Theodore Heyliger said he is looking for an outright win on August 29th. Heyliger said that during the past four years St. Maarten had seen too much instability and its time that for the people of St. Maarten to get a stable government.
Leader of the National Alliance William Marlin also expressed the same sentiments. Marlin said the voters and citizens on St. Maarten are not at all happy with what transpired during the 2010 election where the National Alliance won seven seats and were forced out of government.
Marlin further explained that when speaking to the people of St. Maarten one would get the impression they are still peeved with how the largest party was treated and most of all over the things that happened during the past four years. He said St. Maarten had three governments in one governing period and that does not sit well with the people.
Click here to view more photos of the signature drive at the civil registry.
