By Mike Granger

PHILIPSBURG--The United People's (UP) party has arrived. After months of speculation and public whispers, Commissioner Theo Heyliger confirmed Monday night the formation of the island's newest political party, with emphasis on the people and the potential to completely alter the political landscape in St. Maarten.

For the first time in his political career, Heyliger will not be a member of the "red machine" Democratic Party (DP) co-founded by his grandfather the late Dr. Claude Wathey. Instead, he will participate in the election for Country St. Maarten with a new distinction: party leader. His intention is to proclaim lime green as the colour of his party, if the colour is available according to political party colour regulations.

Considering his showing in the 2007 Island Council election (1,841 personal votes), his formidable resources and grassroots campaign organisation, Heyliger is expected to mount a serious challenge to the established DP, his coalition partner National Alliance (NA) and People's Progressive Alliance (PPA).

He declined to confirm or deny who would be on his list, only willing to say he had been meeting almost daily with various individuals on the island of varying backgrounds and affiliations, to present the people with a balanced list.

However, there is growing speculation that PPA leader Gracita Arrindell and Heyliger will be teaming up to contest the next election.

Efforts were made by DP leader Sarah Wescot-Williams and other DP stalwarts to draw Heyliger back into the DP fold. NA leader William Marlin, fresh off a victory in the Parliamentary elections, also reportedly attempted to convince Heyliger to run with the NA. However, in the end all advances proved futile.

Heyliger reiterated that his decision to break away from DP had been painful and difficult, but a decision he thought personally he had to make.

He said that with the UP, focus and priority would be shifted back to the people – something he believed parties had simply strayed away from in recent years.

"Today I can tell you the name of the party, after long consideration and discussions. Although the temptation will be there to abbreviate the party with 'UPP,' the official abbreviation will be 'UP,' placing emphasis on people, not party. We are busy formalising a party board, a constitution and a visionary platform for the party, with the premise of taking the people of St. Maarten into a bright future. Every step of the way, information will be provided to the people," he said.

The fall of the Balkenende cabinet in the Netherlands has not thrown off Heyliger.

"That really does not change my train of thought. The UP will participate if the election is held tomorrow, next month, or next year. Following the last Parliamentary election in January, many people came up to me and asked about my political future. I want to make it absolutely clear to those people and to the general population that I fully intend to run in the next election, and I hope the UP will be able to secure your support," he said.

The official party launch should come in the next few weeks. Planning and execution, Heyliger said, are important to the UP, and the party will not be thrown together and launched in an ad hoc manner. "When we are ready to launch, believe me, the people will know," he concluded.

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