US Party leader MP Frans Richardson (second left) presents the first copy of the party’s 2016 Manifesto to Shirley Richardson of Philipsburg Jubilee Library in the presence of some St. Maarten Academy students who were doing research at the time of the presentation.\r\n
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PHILIPSBURG--Leader of United St. Maarten Party (US Party) Member of Parliament (MP) Frans Richardson presented the first copy of his party’s 2016 Manifesto to representatives of the Philipsburg Jubilee Library. The manifesto is described by the party as “44 pages of content that we hope will give the people of St. Maarten better insight into USP’s vision for our beautiful country.”\r\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n
The manifesto contains “no magic formula or lavish promises and it is not a recipe for an easy or a perfect life,” said Richardson. It sets out “a broad framework for the recovery” of the country and covers, among others, sustainable development, economic development, tax reform, solid waste management, clean energy, education and animal welfare.\r\n
The US Party “when given the opportunity to govern, have shown that we are committed to restoring the balance of power in favour of the people.\r\n
“We do not buy into the popular notion that St. Maarten, once a booming and progressive island, has fallen so far behind that it is too late to turn things around. We simply have to find the will to bridge the many divides in our community and work with a unity of purpose,” Richardson said.\r\n
“We must capitalize on the dynamism that characterizes our people, our youth, our entrepreneurs and our businesses. We believe in St. Maarten. We want our people to continue believing in St. Maarten,” he added.\r\n
The presentation to the library was “extremely important” for the party as it will be a place where the public, including students, can peruse it for educational and informative purposes.\r\n
“We want our people to provide feedback, read it, scrutinize it, help us refine our ideas and policy proposals so that we could be confident moving forward knowing that we listened to our people,” Richardson said. \r\n
A good a political leader must have the very best evidence-based policies developed by listening, according to Richardson. The party “from the board to the political leader, to the candidates to the membership, offers a family of leaders prepared to include one and all and develop policies that will ensure a better quality of life.”\r\n
The manifesto will be uploaded to the party’s Facebook page - UnitedSXMParty and will be available from candidates. For copies, e-mail [email protected]/* */\r\n
The manifesto will also be presented as stipulated to the Electoral Council.\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t
Source: Daily Herald \n\t\t\t\tUS Party releases 2016 Manifesto"
