~ Says one of party's 6,700 voters left ~
PHILIPSBURG--National Alliance (NA) leader Member of Parliament (MP) William Marlin has equated the recent resignation of the party's deputy leader Frans Richardson to an individual voter leaving the party.
In his first public reaction since Richardson's resignation to become an independent MP, Marlin said he would steer clear of any accusations. He said the NA consisted of more than 6,700 voters and as far as he was concerned two persons had left: Richardson and the other independent MP Patrick Illidge, who had signed an agreement to support the governing coalition shortly after the September 2010 elections.
"If a candidate leaves, that is his or her good choice. Every political party has had people moving from one political party to another and probably that will continue to happen," Marlin told radio personality Lloyd Richardson on PJD2 1300am on Sunday.
Whether Richardson's departure will affect the NA, he said, will be measured when the electorate goes to the polls the next time. He said the public's general sentiment was that the "party will only get stronger."
In describing voters' sentiments, Marlin said supporters had been expressing their disappointment in voting for a candidate on the party slate and seeing the vote "go towards a regime that they have been opposing and fighting against."
He said this was the first time in St. Maarten's history that the electorate would have to wait four years for an election. He said Central Government Parliamentary elections had been held one year and Island Council elections the next year under the previous constitutional setup.
"In the last 10 years there had been four or five elections, so people and politicians have been used to a quick turnover. If you missed the boat in 1998 there was one in 1999 and this has had an impact on the things that you see taking place," he said.
Marlin said his loyalty had been and always would be with the people of St. Maarten. "If I take a position and take a stand I will go on a podium and I will tell people."
He said he had kept his word each time he had had an opportunity to serve in public office, and had improved the road network and built homes and schools, among other improvements.
"That is where my heart and my commitment have always been and that is where I will continue to focus," he said.
He said it was no coincidence that the party's logo had multiple colours and its slogan was "Working together for St. Maarten."
"There is no self interest for me. It is the interest of St. Maarten that will continue to prevail at all times. ... Politics is not only decided by who is on a list, All kind of dynamics play a role. ... Unfortunately in St. Maarten we still have a culture where people complain about an issue and when election comes around we don't equate the governing and the governing process," he said.
Niclas Alexandersson Property ITV Tottenham Hotspur Retirement planning Tim Cahill
No comments:
Post a Comment