All seven ministers of the incoming UP/NA coalition will be selected from the two parties’ candidate lists in Monday’s election (see related story). That’s no doubt welcome news for persons who complain that those who end up governing St. Maarten are often not the same
ones they voted for.
Of course, it’s a parliamentary democracy whereby the legislature, not the executive branch, is chosen directly. A majority of these elected representatives then nominates the Council of Ministers.
As such, there is nothing wrong with making non-politicians public administrators. Still, appointing candidates who actually campaigned for the people’s support adds legitimacy to the Government.
It was already pretty obvious that NA’s William Marlin, Silveria Jacobs and Richard Gibson would return as cabinet members. It now appears the future VROMI Minister is also to come from the party’s election slate.
Who will be the three Ministers and the Plenipotentiary Minister in The Hague for UP is not yet known, but the fact that they all will have been candidates on the ballot at least excludes some widely rumoured possibilities. Although not an obligation, including some of the biggest vote-getters in the team that is to run the country on a day-to-day basis is certainly desirable from a democratic point of view.
