Minister Wycliffe Smith.
~No confirmation received from Governor~
PHILIPSBURG–Deputy Prime Minister Wycliffe Smith said on Wednesday that Governor Eugene Holiday has approved the invocation of Article 59 by the Council of Ministers and the date for a snap election has been set for November 25, with the expectation of a new Parliament to be sworn into office by December 23.
But as far as The Daily Herald can ascertain, the Council of Ministers has not yet received a confirmation to this effect from Governor Eugene Holiday.
Considering the current political developments, Governor Eugene Holiday said in a press release on Monday that he had decided to start consultations to establish the feasibility of forming a new government. These were to take place yesterday and today.
Holiday also said that on Monday morning he held a meeting with Romeo-Marlin in which he was apprised of the decision of the Council of Ministers to invoke Article 59 of the Constitution to dissolve Parliament and call new elections.
The prime minister submitted a draft national decree which calls for elections to be held on Monday, November 25, and for the new Parliament to convene on December 23.
Romeo-Marlin also made the portfolios of the ministers, the minister plenipotentiary and deputy minister plenipotentiary available. “Governor Holiday, after review, ratified the draft dissolution decree in keeping with the Constitution and took the resignation request into consideration,” it was stated in the release.
Smith said all ministers have submitted their resignation in writing to the Governor and he has requested that the Council of Ministers, including the minister plenipotentiary and the deputy minister plenipotentiary, continue their duties in the interest of St. Maarten and continue working with him until he has been able to make a decision on their request for resignation.
“We will continue to execute our duties in the service of our country,” Smith said, noting that the weekly Council of Ministers press briefing is for the dissemination of information regarding the duties of the Council of Ministers, and not a campaigning platform for political parties.
Source: The Daily Herald https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/91216-smith-snap-elections-set-for-november-25
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