Dear Editor,
This September 26, a new Parliament of St. Maarten will be elected to office. Each vote cast will help elect one of the 15 Members. That vote expresses the confidence the people have in the candidate of their choice, to be their voice and to handle the interest of the people of St. Maarten, in accordance with their mandate.
Essentially the campaign can be considered the job interview and the voting on September 26, the selection process after which the vacant 15 seats in Parliament will be filled with the best candidates for the job.
Members of Parliament have no fixed 8-hours work day; no exclusive location to work; they don’t clock in and out; no system to prove that there is any actual work being done for the salary. In other words, a parliamentarian must be sufficiently disciplined or at least care enough to show up to work, because the only people checking are the voters and they only get to hire and fire every 4 years when elections come around.
In my experience the job of a member of Parliament is 24/7 and if done right, consistently with the people in mind and with the cooperation of all involved, budgets can pass on time, legislative amendments and proposals can be made on a regular basis, Ministers can be called to Parliament to give account of their actions on how they are spending the people’s taxes.
Moreover meetings can be set at 8:00am when everybody else is expected to work and if members show up on time and sign in, it is even possible to be home for dinner. All this by saving the tax payer the cost of: overtime for civil servants, utilities, food and beverages etc. I say that to say this: Parliament can work much more efficiently with respect to time, taxes and results.
What does it take? People who take the job seriously, political maturity if you will, true concern, knowledge of the job and experience. Ideally it takes a combination of them all.
Though probably sounding like a broken record, I emphasise that whoever is elected to do this job and of course I am working towards being elected, is the result of the people’s decision.
If you are reading this and are convinced but know of others who treat their voting power as trivial, I say to you it is our collective responsibility to convince these people of the power they hold in their hands – that it should not be sold cheaply for a few bucks … No, it would not surprise me that it’s still happening.
Your vote is mighty indeed, so much so, that if you don’t use it you are guaranteed no change, no stability in government, no possibility of improvement and frankly no reason to complain about it. There are very few certainties in life, except for not voting of course, which will certainly render no results.
I have demonstrated to the people of St. Maarten that I do handle the people’s business with the knowledge that is required and the dedication and seriousness it deserves. Then at least there is an opportunity for results.
Your vote is mighty indeed. Please use it on September 26.
Maria Buncamper-Molanus
Candidate #5 on the United St. Maarten Party (US Party) list
