Additionally the ordinance changes the Island Regulation (ERNA) to allow the Executive Council of St. Maarten to expand to seven Commissioners and increases the Island Council of St. Maarten to fifteen members after the next elections.
Moreover, the ordinance introduces dualism on the island territory level. Dualism entails that a member of the Executive Council can no longer be a member of the Island Council.
The faction of the National Alliance, Senators Rodolphe Samuel and George Pantophlet, introduced an initiative amendment to the ordinance – supported by a wide majority of Parliament – to create the authority for St. Maarten to - by Island Ordinance- regulate wages, attendance fees and other remunerations for Island Council members. A similar change of the island regulation was also introduced for Saba, St. Eustatius, and Bonaire. By this change of the Island Regulation members of the Island Councils can now be full-time and salaried Parliamentarians. The Minister of Constitutional and Home Affairs adopted the amendment making it part of the ordinance.
The vote of Parliament- approving the draft ordinance and its amendments - was carried by twenty two (22) in favor and zero (0) against, thus unanimous.
The Prime Minister and Minister Duncan heartily thanked the Parliamentarians for their unanimous support of the legislation and the further empowerment of the Island Territories in the exercise of their right of self -determination. The draft legislation is a further necessary and important step in the constitutional process; moving St. Maarten closer to country status.
