Postulation Day Postponed.
PHILIPSBURG:--- Members of the Central Voting Bureau chaired by attorney at law Jason Rogers have made their positions available to the Prime Minister of St. Maarten Leona Romeo Marlin, which was copied to the Governor Eugene Holiday, and the nomination committee.
The letter addressed to the Prime Minister was delivered on Tuesday after members of the bureau met on Monday evening.
Those members are Jason Rogers, Tamara Richardson, Anastacio Baker, Cindy Marcia, and Nerissa de la Rosa.
Rogers told SMN News in an invited comment that the voting bureau had dispatched a letter to the Prime Minister on September 25th expressing their concerns. He said the members of the voting bureau are concerned that they are being hindered in executing their tasks which has to be based on the laws of the country.
Rogers said that there are several dates that must be respected such as the 48 days between postulation day and election day, in order to give political parties enough time to campaign and also the voters' time to reflect. He said while there are talks about pushing the election date to December that too would not have addressed all their concerns. Rogers further explained that when they take a decision political parties and voters can take them to court which is their right and that too has to take place within a certain time frame.
He admitted that the members of the central voting bureau had a lot of thinking to do because making their positions available was not an easy decision.
Certainly, the new developments surrounding the central voting bureau will definitely delay snap elections as new members would have to appointed and those members would have to be in their function at least 30 days prior to postulation day.
COUNCIL OF MINISTERS TAKES DECISION TO POSTPONE POSTULATION DAY
01 October 2019
As a result of the decision on October 1st, of all the members of the Central Voting Bureau to make their positions available, the Council of Ministers took the decision to postpone Postulation Day that was scheduled for October 2nd 2019.
It is important to note that the decision on the dismissal of Parliament by the Council of Ministers will remain in place while the dates for Postulation Day, Election Day and the new sitting of Parliament will be amended allowing for the proper execution of the election.
Additionally, this decision gives the opportunity to all political parties that wish to participate in the upcoming election, the time to organize themselves and submit the relevant documents. The new dates will be made known during the course of this week.
The Council of Ministers will elucidate further on its decision during the Weekly Press Briefing on Wednesday at 10:00 am.
