~ Wycliffe Smith leads party ~
PHILIPSBURG--The St. Maarten Christian Party will be the first faith-based party to apply to contest an election in St. Maarten.
The party, headed by retired pastor Wycliffe Smith, announced on Sunday that it would apply for registration at the offices of the Electoral Council to participate in the upcoming snap elections.
The party was founded by clergymen Christian Faith Ministries International Edwin Arrindell Head Pastor and New Testament Baptist Church former Head Pastor Wycliffe Smith. The St. Maarten Christian Party said it had been as created to “serve the people for a change.”
Concerned with the current state of affairs in and out of government, Smith said he had decided it was time to create a party that would “lead with integrity and exemplify the life, both public and private, that is rooted in Christian principles, norms and values. This means mindset with an alignment to core values and doing what is best for the country at large without compromising those values.”
Although intending to run in the snap elections, Smith also heads the provisional board as President, alongside Secretary Benjamin Bell of Tehilah Ministries and Treasurer Jacqueline Godet of the Methodist Church in French Quarter.
The party said it had registered officially with a notary and the Chamber of Commerce this past week and would submit these documents to the Electoral Council to contest the elections in February 2016.
The party has met to date with some of its constituents and key supporters to explain its objectives, which are to serve the people for a change and in so doing improve the quality of life for all inhabitants in the country without discrimination, and to restore and promote accountability, transparency, integrity and decency to public life and governance.
St. Maarten deserves leaders, elected and appointed officials who exemplify these character traits, not only in public life but in their private lives as well, the party said.
Another objective is to collaborate with other parties, organisation and individuals that ascribe to the guiding principles of the party and whose intent also is to work in the best interest of St. Maarten and its people.
Additional information about the party can be obtained from the St. Maarten Christian Party. Persons can e-mail
wycliffesmith [AT] gmail [DOT] com or call Benjamin Bell at tel. 522-5803 or 523-3858.
First faith-based party to apply to contest upcoming elections
