~ Suggests election reform options ~
PHILIPSBURG--The St. Maarten Hospitality and Trade Association (SHTA) weighed in on political reform and snap elections in a special edition of its electronic newsletter issued on Thursday.
SHTA alluded to the decree submitted by the Marlin Cabinet to cancel the decree submitted by the former Gumbs Cabinet on snap elections.
“Today (Thursday) we are informed that an attempt will be made to postpone the called-for elections until there has been some form of electoral reform implemented. Government will be putting the Governor in an impossible position and risking that this decision is left to the Kingdom Council of Ministers.
“SHTA strongly agrees with the new political parties in the protest against postponing elections. In fact, we have recently done two surveys of our members who overwhelming disapprove of the postponement of elections,” the association said.
“The very idea to postpone the elections is a very slippery slope. If Parliament would be allowed to postpone elections, this would be a worrisome precedent. Adding the very broad basis of ‘until there is electoral reform’ is even more so.
“What happens in 2018 if there hasn’t been any electoral reform? Will Government then attempt to postpone that election as well? Indefinitely? Expecting the beneficiaries of a broken system to fix the system is an unrealistic expectation and the only ones that will suffer for it are the people.”
SHTA said going to the polls could “never” be termed undemocratic. “Going to the polls does not infringe on anyone’s right to elect representation. Deciding to postpone elections could be termed undemocratic; that does infringe on the voter’s constitutional rights. …
“It appears that our political leaders cannot agree on what should happen. In such a case the only option is to go to the polls and let the voters decide. Not a judge, not the Governor and not the Kingdom Council of Ministers. Let the voters decide and then we can all move forward.”
Regarding electoral reform, the association said there were some specific options that could be introduced now to reduce the current difficulties being experienced and to “improve the effectiveness of Government.”
It proposed two options. The first option is for the 15 highest vote-getters to be elected to Parliament, irrespective of total party votes. Every voter, SHTA added, can get to vote for each of the 15 different MPs, as is the case in the United States where one gets a vote for each of the open positions.
“This way nobody rides into Parliament on anyone else’s coattails and every voter has the opportunity to voice what they want Parliament to work for as a whole. You can vote from one to 15. You can vote party lines if so inclined or just indicate who you think the best candidates for parliamentary seats are.
“Reducing the number of Parliamentarians would drastically reduce the cost of Government, so even if they remain as ineffective, at least it isn’t costing us as much,” SHTA said.