With the detention of United St. Maarten Party leader Frans Richardson for the alleged accepting of bribes and tax fraud having been prolonged for eight days last Friday, barring another extension he is likely to be out in time for Monday’s election. The possible impact of his arrest on the result continues to be a topic of discussion in the community.
Many assume it will be negative for him and the party, but that’s not necessarily the case. After all, he is innocent until proven guilty and that the latter will still take place by February 26 seems doubtful at best.
Moreover, history within the Dutch Caribbean shows that loss of popular support under similar circumstances is by no means a forgone conclusion. Curaçao’s FOL leader Anthony Godett was convicted and jailed for corruption but maintained his seat in the –former – Antillean Parliament and could not be removed, as there was no provision like in St. Maarten’s current Constitution to suspend elected officials once they are in pre-trial custody.
He was released shortly before the 2003 elections and walked home from prison stopping at various churches along with his followers in what proved to be the start of a very successful last-minute campaign. FOL was a big winner that year and led the coalition government formed afterwards, although Godett could not pass the screening to become a cabinet member and made his sister prime minister instead.
Of course, the two situations are not the same, as Godett had already been sentenced and served his term, while Richardson hasn’t even been officially charged yet. In addition, FOL and US Party are obviously different political organisations.
But still, what happened back then illustrates the unknown factor of so-called sympathy votes, because the FOL leader was generally well-liked. People also saw him as a “small fish” whom others had gotten in trouble with the law, and backed him massively at the polls, perhaps in part out of respect for his late father, FOL’s cofounder and famed labour leader Wilson “Papa” Godett.
It’s mostly a matter of public perception.
