PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten – That’s what it looks like when the NA/USP government itself tramples the rules or better yet, refuses to establish any rules regarding the 2019/2020 campaign. The customary exemption that should be given for political parties to put up political material on public roads and in public spaces has not been issue and the government turns a blind eye to the campaign contest which had started. We allow the rules to be made up as we go along.
No, nomination day is NOT the start for erecting campaign material etc. The Minister of Justice has to give exemption from the regular rules that govern the use of public spaces.
So again, St. Maarten is going to be caught up in controversy about these rules, who did and who did not. And as it goes with these types of issues, in the bacchanal, we will loose out of sight the essence of the debate, which is lawlessness and a government’s failure.
Where should campaign material go up or not?
Is it open season for billboards and flags?
Do we even listen to the voices for moderation and consideration for the people of St. Maarten?
We guess, the NA/USP government’s motto is:
“that was then, we opposed because we were in opposition, but we really have no position and we sneakily ride on the work and backs of others”.
The United Democrats (UD) Party
