PHILIPSBURG--Government plans to take its draft ordinance to stop “ship-jumping” in Parliament to the people for input in the near future.
Prime Minister William Marlin told Parliament on Thursday that town hall sessions are being considered for the draft law that seeks to prevent Members of Parliament (MPs) from leaving the parties to which they were elected, to form a government with another group as “independent” MPs.
The sessions are “to allow for discussion with members of the community to get their ideas and input,” Marlin said in responding to questions about electoral reform posed by MP Sarah Wescot-Williams (Democratic Party).
Electoral reform was a hot topic for Government and Parliament in 2015 and 2016, but the fervour has died down since. Marlin said of the quiet around the topic: “We have not abandoned it.”
However, he further noted Government has “so many other priorities” at the moment. “Yes, we can have a [Government – Ed.] crisis, but there is a lot to deal with,” he said.
“Ship-jumping” was the primary cause of St. Maarten having had six governments since its attainment of Country-within-the-Kingdom status in October 2010.
