What now? That’s the question many were asking as news broke that “Formateur” Franklin Meyers had withdrawn as such and as candidate prime minister due to issues with his screening.
Some suggested they had seen it coming. However, Meyers had assured that he – after arranging a few tax matters – did pass the screening in 2016 as candidate for an envisioned UP/NA cabinet that never materialised and was replaced by the “red, white and blue” NA/US party/DP coalition government.
The UP/DP/Brownbill majority in Parliament, or “Super Eight” as the current opposition called them, must quickly decide how to proceed. Installing a new Council of Ministers can no longer wait for very long under the dire circumstances in which the country finds itself following the catastrophic passage of Hurricane Irma.
The next government was supposed to have a transitional status and prepare the early election still scheduled for February 26, but the general expectation had been that it would postpone going back to the polls once in office. This latest setback makes a widely undesired electoral campaign in this time of great suffering that much more likely.
Another “formateur” needs to be appointed, who could perhaps continue the formation process with the remaining proposed cabinet members who passed the screening and select an interim prime minister from among them. But it’s not clear whether the persons involved and the politicians they represent even want that.
Maybe a “professional” cabinet with the necessary legislative backing is an option. Then again, nominating only recent former ministers might be the best way to avoid similar problems.
The last thing St. Maarten requires right now is added uncertainty, yet that’s exactly what the people seem to be getting. One only hopes that these developments do not lead to further delay in the much-needed recovery funds from the Netherlands, especially as the last hurdle of signing the adjusted Integrity Chamber Ordinance into law has finally been taken.
