~ Brison requests extension ~
PHILIPSBURG–Member of Parliament-elect former Minister Christophe Emmanuel (National Alliance) and three other non-elected candidates of the February 26 snap elections have failed to meet the legally set deadline for submission of their donation registration to the Electoral Council.
MP-elect Rolando Brison (United St. Maarten Party) has requested an extension to submit the donation registration “due to unexpected travels,” said the Electoral Council. The request for an extension was received on the deadline day – Monday.
Non-submission carries a penalty of some NAf 500 per day for up to 30 days for non-compliance after which the Electoral Council can taken other sterner actions. The defaulting candidates will be informed via a letter from the Council about their breach of the law and the penalty will take effect as of the date of the letter.
Non-compliance with the National Ordinance on the Registration and Financing of Politicial Parties could result in a MP-elect being unable to take the oath of office.
All MPs-elect signed and submitted letters to Parliament stating they have not violated any of the country’s laws. Those letters formed part of their credentials that were vetted and approved by Parliament on Friday.
Emmanuel and fellow NA candidate Roberto Arrindell have not finalized the registration online nor have they provided the Electoral Council with any information regarding their non-compliance.
Other defaulting candidates Roel Haakmat and Armando Gumbs (People’s Progressive Alliance) concluded the registration online with no possibility to make any more adjustments. However, they failed to submit the signed register of donations to the Electoral Council as is required by law.
The deadline for submission of donation registers was Monday, March 26, at 6:00pm.
Eighty-eight (88) of the 93 candidates, have formally submitted their donation registries to the Electoral Council.
Despite repeated requests to the parties to assist their candidates with the registration of donations and ensure that they submit it on time, the Electoral Council said a great number of candidates still showed up on the last day empty-handed and required assistance from the Council with the completion and printing of their registration.
While it is not the responsibility of the Electoral Council to complete the candidates’ donation registrations, the candidates were nonetheless assisted by the Electoral Council.
Source: The Daily Herald https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/75086-emmanuel-three-others-miss-donation-registration-deadline-2
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