The decision to postpone the early election, starting with the cancellation of Nomination Day today, Monday, was the only right thing to do. Not only would terms in the Electoral Ordinance and Constitution have been infringed on, but going back to the polls under the current circumstances so soon after the catastrophic passage of Hurricane Irma is simply a very bad idea.
This also means the interim cabinet to be installed by the incoming coalition will have a bit more time to work on the reconstruction effort, for which the Dutch Council of Ministers has approved 550 million euros in financial assistance. The money will obviously be released gradually and with many strings attached, including the already mentioned conditions regarding the Integrity Chamber and border control, but words of appreciation to the government and people of the Netherlands are certainly in order.
Readers also wondered why a motion passed by Parliament on Friday for Prime Minister William Marlin to be relieved of his duties did not force him to step down immediately. It just doesn’t work that way, because motions express a desire of the legislature that Government doesn’t always have to follow if there is good reason not to, also based on the separation of powers or “trias politica” principle.
Some point to then-Curaçao Prime Minister Gerrit Schotte having been ousted from office in 2012. However, he had refused to recognise the transitional cabinet being formed by the new majority pending snap elections and even ordered civil servants not to cooperate with the screening of candidate ministers.
What’s important now is for the next government to consist of capable persons who, despite its short-lived nature, can at least make an effective start in guiding the process to rebuild St. Maarten. Not so much party affiliation, but knowledge, professional abilities, willingness to compromise and especially strength of character more than ever should be the determining criteria.
