MP Heyliger-Marten suggests PM’s new initiative be synchronized with electoral reform efforts | SOUALIGA NEWSDAY

SINT MAARTEN (PHILIPSBURG) - On August 5th, 2022, Chairlady of the Ad hoc Committee for Electoral Reform (AHCER), Member of Parliament (MP) Grisha Heyliger-Marten sent a letter to Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs seeking collaboration on electoral reform, which has been an ongoing process in Parliament.

Heyliger-Marten’s letter to the PM was prompted by the latter’s recent reports in the local media that she was launching a “multi-pronged campaign on electoral reform”. In said reports, the Prime Minister indicated that the first phase in the process would be conducting a public survey on electoral reform.

In her letter, Heyliger-Marten reminded the Prime Minister that over the years, AHCER members have been asking for government’s plans and intentions for electoral reform in order to synchronize efforts to this effect.

As Chair of AHCER, and in close consultation with MP Sarah Wescot-Williams, initiator of this committee, MP Heyliger-Marten convened a closed-door AHCER meeting prior to the Parliamentary recess.

In this meeting a number of priority issues were discussed based on a position paper prepared by the Secretariat of Parliament, such as: Electoral System (Constitution and Election Ordinance), Political Parties (Constitution, Financing and Registration, Election Ordinance), Parliament (Constitution, Election Ordinance), Membership Constitution, Election Ordinance), Screening Laws (Ministers).

Heyliger-Marten is a firm believer in continuity in government and setting political differences aside in the interest of the greater good for Sint Maarten. This is why she reached out to MP Sarah Wescot-Williams in moving the process forward.

In closing, Heyliger-Marten requested the Prime Minister to provide Parliament with an overview of the “multi-pronged campaign”, as well as all other relevant information about the process that the Government has embarked on with regard to electoral reform.

This information can then be used as input for the dialogue on electoral reform between the Government and Parliament, Heyliger-Marten stated in her letter.

A subsequent letter was sent to the Prime Minister on August 23rd, 2022, requesting her to attend a meeting of the AHCER on September 2nd, 2022, at 10 am.