Great Bay:--- The Molasses restaurant at the Great Bay hotel was packed to its capacity on Tuesday evening with mostly members and supporters of the Democratic Party, dressed in red to witness the historic signing the "Country St. Maarten Accord" to form the first coalition government for country St. Maarten.Members of the Democratic Party including its leader Sarah Wescot Williams waited more than an hour before the leader of the United People's Party Theodore Heyliger and his elected candidates and supporters could arrive for the signing.
President of the Democratic Party Michael Ferrier told the gathering that the accord took four long and hard days to negotiate and it was done by Andy Wescot representing the Democratic Party and Joseph Richardson representing the United People's Party. The Accord reads that the United People's Party and the Democratic Party have agreed that the Democratic Party would have the positions of Prime Minister, General Affairs, including the responsibility for Article 2 sub V1 Community Development, Minister of Plenipotentiary in The Hague, Public Health, Social Development and Labour and the Deputy Chairperson of Parliament. While the United People's Party would have, Deputy Prime Minister, Deputy Minister of Plenipotentiary in The Hague, Chairperson of Parliament, VROM and infrastructure, Tourism and Economic Affairs, Traffic and Transportation and Telecommunication as well as Finance, Justice, Education, Youth Affairs, Sports and Culture.
The United Peoples Party will be appointing the shareholder representatives for EDC, PJIAE group of companies, GEBE NV, and the harbor group of companies. While the Democratic Party would appoint the shareholder representatives for Post NV, TELEM group of companies, and Winair NV.The two political parties that would be forming the first coalition after Friday's historic election have also agreed to jointly appoint the appointees to the government entities such as the Central Bank, Foundation Land Registry, Supervisory councils—SER, General Auditing Chamber and the Council of Advice.
The Dutch Embassies and consulates will also be appointed jointly for those mentioned and not mentioned, Dominican Republic, Washington, Cuba, Trinidad, Venezuela, and Miami.
Should parties encounter differences of opinion then an arbitration committee will be appointed consisting of two members one from each of the parties.A governing program along with the parties political programs will form the basis for a governing program, which shall be drafted within sixty days after they take office.
The historic accord was signed by the leaders of the two parties Theodore Heyliger of the UP party and the Democratic Party, and co-signed by the other elected candidates from both political parties, signing as witnesses were Michael Ferrier of the Democratic Party and Franklin Meyers of the UP party.
President of the UP Franklin Meyers took a quote from the President of the United States that said when people have worked and sacrificed together all things are possible. Meyers said the people that have voted for the UP and the DP have voted against the National Alliance and that must be respected. Meyers said the two parties would also work to make St. Maarten what it should be. While the president of the DP said they have a job to do and they will do it well.
Leader of the United People's Party Theodore Heyliger in his address has guaranteed all persons living on St. Maarten especially those persons who did not vote for the UP party full representation. Heyliger said he is not a vindictive person and he wants to assure those persons that did not vote for the UP or DP that they will be represented, they will get the best in education, health, justice and in every other field that they can portray on St. Maarten. Heyliger also put to rest the constant rumors that spread like wild fire on Tuesday that states that he was either arrested or questioned by police. "I want to assure you I have not been any place else except driving around in my car." Heyliger said that putting together the accord has taken quite some time. He said the negotiations started even before the polls closed on Friday. He said they took governing St. Maarten very seriously.
Heyliger said he is refreshed after a very bitter campaign, a campaign he said that has shown new levels of participation in all different fields however, they are there to bury all differences and to work toward the interest of the people of St. Maarten. Heyliger said that the UP is the youngest in the coalition and they have signed an agreement with the oldest party on the island thus they now have all the levels of experience the UP party did not have. Heyliger said he is thankful for the candidates that would be joining him in parliament because there are those that were looking to divide those elected on the UP slate.
Leader of the Democratic Party Sarah Wescot Williams in her speech said the team that worked on the accord was small but they are motivated by securing that the future of St. Maarten is at the heart in everything they do. Wescot Williams said governing is not going to be an easy task and maybe that is the reason the UP and the DP has joined to form the next government for country St. Maarten. The DP leader also said that they began the negotiations before the polls closed on Friday simply because the people needed to know that serious people are committed to making sure the foundation for country St. Maarten is a solid one. Wescot Williams said she also hated to disappoint those who thought the agreement was signed before Election Day. After the signing the signatories held a toast to celebrate what they described as a historical moment.
