St. Maarten News —Members of the National Alliance has returned William Marlin and Silveria Jacobs as the leader and deputy leader respectfully with a unanimous vote at the party congress Sunday. The congress was held at the Westin St. Maarten Dawn Beach Resort and Spa on Sunday.
Keynote speaker was Ralph Cantave, author and 2015 recipient of the President of Parliament Award. In his presentation he spoke of the difficulties that the island experienced following the passage of the hurricanes of 1995 and reminded the audience how quickly the island was restored and much better than the way it was built before. He noted that when the rebuilding was completed St. Maarten came right back to its prominence where it rightly deserved.
He explained that now after 21 years following the passage of hurricanes Luis and Lenny, the island is again devastated by instability where the government has changed five times in five years. This led to a slow economic growth and a spike in criminal activity with a higher cost of living and children going hungry in the “land of milk and honey.”
He questioned that how is it that local St. Maarteners no longer control the economy in the land that they built? He said that although this ratio has to change, it cannot be done without the masses participating in the electoral process. He explained that the island is at a new stage of development and the National Alliance must be commended and their leader William Marlin for the commitment and accomplishments over the years.
National Alliance Congress 2016: Marlin and Jacobs returned as party leader and deputy
