The plea by former Parliament Chairman Lloyd Richardson (see Monday paper) for all parties to engage in talks to try to resolve the ongoing constitutional impasse did not receive much public reaction. That is understandable, because the two camps have become so entrenched in their
positions that even the Governor was unable to find common ground and now has solicited the advice of three judges.
Moreover, Richardson himself broke with the NA while part of its legislative fraction to join the UP party before last year’s election and arguably could be considered a “ship-jumper” too. The parliamentarian says he did so because he saw a better chance of achieving a broad-based coalition that way, which of course worked with 10 out of 15 seats until three colleagues withdrew their support by backing a motion of no confidence against the Gumbs cabinet by the – then – opposition.
Be that is it may, the prospect of a national government indeed expressed by him earlier perhaps would not be such a crazy idea. The full four years he mentioned obviously is no longer possible without an election, but there are still three years left in the parliamentary term.
The reality is also that whoever is chosen to govern will meet the same obstacles that have led to many of the complaints about the functioning of the current Council of Ministers, particularly the continued budgetary woes. Not only does that mean the public administration is still operating based on last year’s estimated income and expenditures, but – worse – the country cannot access financing to execute its capital projects, and this is exactly where the political frustration lies.
Having “all hands on deck” might actually be called for to solve this key problem, because at this point quite drastic measures to cut cost and/or increase income probably should not be excluded. The crime situation, the financial instruction regarding the debts to SZV and APS, the Integrity Chamber and other developments regarding law enforcement, just to name a few, all can be considered burning issues that affect the entire society and probably could do with a “national approach.”
Mind you, it’s not going to happen, because that’s just not how politics in St. Maarten work. Can’t blame a guy for trying though, can you?
