PHILIPSBURG Of the six parties contesting the snap February 26 elections, only the St. Maarten Christian Party (SMCP) has published its manifesto as prescribed by its articles of association. The party published its manifesto on January 25, two days ahead of its own deadline.
All parties are required by the National Ordinance on Registration and Finances of Political Parties “to make their manifestos public in a timely manner,” the Electoral Council reminded in a press statement today, Thursday. The political programme of a party “should be published around the date of postulation (nomination day),” said the Council.
Extremely late is the newest party in the race for Parliament – the United Democrats. That party, the People’s Progressive Alliance (PPA) and St. Maarten Development Movement (SDM) should have published their manifestos “at the latest January 5.”
The articles of association of the United Democrats and PPA also state that their manifestos should be submitted to the Electoral Council two weeks prior to the date of postulation, in this case December 22, 2017.
The manifesto of the National Alliance (NA) was due with the Council “around January 5.” The United St. Maarten Party (US Party) should have its manifesto at the “latest February 1.”
All manifestos should be available for the public all parties now that less than 20 days remain before the polls, according to the Electoral Council. The remaining political parties are “strongly urged” to publish their manifestos without further delay.
Source: The Daily Herald https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/73502-smcp-only-one-with-published-manifesto
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