Philipsburg:--- It appears as though the rumor that has taken over the island in the political arena became a reality early Saturday morning when the two Independent Members of Parliament namely Frans Richardson and Patrick Illidge along with Romaine La Ville teamed up to form a block within Parliament and joined their forces with the National Alliance to form the next government "Team St. Maarten". Even though the Members of Parliament have not confirmed their intentions of breaking the current coalition government, sources close to the United Peoples Party said that the United Peoples Party lost its support from Member of Parliament Patrick Illidge while Romaine La Ville has finally decided to resign from the United Peoples Party and team up with the Independent Members to form the new government. Early Saturday morning the three Members of Parliament gave the people of St. Maarten a clear indication that they were ready to end their suffering shortly after King Beau Beau sang his song "vote for me --- help help" in the Calypso finals at Festival Village. Members of Parliament Patrick Illidge, Frans Richardson, and Romaine La Ville appeared on stage with Beau Beau and raised their hands giving a clear signal that they are the ones that will help St. Maarten out of its current dilemma. Also at Festival Village Saturday morning to witness the display were the leader of the National Alliance William Marlin and Member of Parliament Louis Laveist. Prime Minister Sarah Wescot Williams was also at Festival Village when the informal declaration was made.
SMN News reported some weeks ago that the United Peoples Party was losing its majority and support from at least three Members of Parliament, namely Patrick Illidge and the two members from the Democratic Party Faction Roy Marlin and Petrus Leroy De Weever. However, the Members of the Democratic Party faction were nowhere around Friday night into early Saturday morning when the informal declaration was made by the three Members of Parliament.
SMN News further learnt that the leader of the United Peoples Party called at least one Member of the National Alliance Faction and asked him to go independent and support his government in exchange for land around the ring road. The source said Heyliger is still trying to secure support from the Members of the National Alliance to keep his government in-tact.
Click here to view more photos of MP's strategizing on how to form new government.
