PHILIPSBURG:--- The Electoral Council would like to remind all political parties contesting the upcoming parliamentary elections that in accordance with the National Ordinance on Registration and Finances of Political Parties they are required to make their manifestos public in a timely manner. In order for the public to make a well-informed decision, the political program of a party should be published around the date of postulation. To date, only one party, the Sint Maarten Christian Party, has presented their manifesto for the 2018 elections to the public.
According to the articles of association of the respective political parties the publication dates of their manifestos are:
- US Party: latest February 1, 2018
- NA: around January 5, 2018
- SDM: latest January 5, 2018
- SMCP: latest January 27, 2018. (Published on January 25, 2018)
- United Democrats: latest January 5, 2018
- P.P.A.: latest January 5, 2018
Additionally the articles of association of the United Democrats and the P.P.A. state that their manifestos should be submitted to the Electoral Council two (2) weeks prior to the date of postulation, in this case, December 22, 2017.
The Electoral Council is of the opinion that all manifestos should be available to the public, with less than twenty (20) days remaining for the 2018 Elections. The remaining political parties are strongly urged to publish their manifestos without further delay.
