Philipsburg: ---Information from a very reliable source indicated to us, that there are a number of prominent Antilleans on the island, who are mulling the idea of setting up a new political party to contest the Federal elections for the last parliament of the Netherlands Antilles in 2009.
The source, who prefers for now to remain anonymous, told us that candidates are being sought for this new party.
Also, according to the source, if the party is actually set up and participates in the elections, it will mean that the voters will have a real choice, because both the DP and the NA are the same, in the sense that both parties have betrayed the Antillean people on each island of the Antilles in their effort to appease the large numbers of immigrants at the expense of the native St. Martiners and other Antilleans.
Therefore, this 'Antillean first party', becomes a reality it will have and focus on a very simple and consistent platform.
According to our source it will be that regardless of any constitutional status for St. Maarten, the new constitution should be based on Antilleans coming first on all islands of the Antilles.
That position is extremely interesting and unique, because it does not favor nor oppose any particular constitutional status, but simply states that Antilleans should come first on all islands of the Antilles.
It is therefore possible that this new party contains candidates whose choice ranges from 'Country status' to Independence, to a Restructured Antilles, to a BES-island, but whose main and single key issue for the election will be, regardless any status..... 'Antilleans must come first '.
Our source, also shared with us that this concept might also be of interest to the voters on all the islands of the Antilles.
It means that even in the event the Antilles would be dissolved as a constitutional entity, the Antillean identity will be preserved on all the islands, including the rights for Antilleans to be first as is now the case on all the islands.
When asked who were the main motors behind setting up this possible new 'Antillean first party' and are looking for serious candidates, names of Mr. Leopold JAMES and Elrige Van Putten was mentioned. Persons interested in joining the new party can call Mr. Vanputten for further information. SMN News contacted James for a comment and he declined to comment, when pressed he did not deny either.
