Theophilus Priest
to contest elections
PHILIPSBURG--National Democratic Party (NDP) on will nominate its leader Theophilus F. Priest as an independent political candidate on the Freedom Slate, March 1.
Priest’s campaign motto for the Island Council elections slated for April 20 will be “Voting Team St. Maarten into government.” He wants the electorate to elect 11 Island Council members who will form what he called a National Unity Government.
The unity government made up of professional politicians would have to execute the November 2 accord “to the letter.”
“This is not the time to continue the political bickering, but a time to unite, for unity is strength.” Priest said.
“This election it should not be about parties, but about electing representatives with knowledge,” said Priest who intends to run as the only candidate on the NDP Freedom slate.
“St. Maarten at this most important time in our history when we are actually pursuing a new status of country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands must be united as one. The new Island Council will have its hands full tending to matters to prepare St Maarten for its new status,” said Priest.
“To make sure that St Maarten’s future cannot be held hostage by Curaçao, it is crucial that a National Unity Government be formed to go ahead with the transfer of tasks and responsibilities of the Central Government,” Priest said.
According to Priest, the issue of the debt can be resolved by quickly agreeing on what part of the Central Government’s debt falls to St. Maarten based on either population or economic indicators, so that it can be included in an arrangement to be made with the Dutch Government.
The issue of the Central Bank, the Social Insurance Bank SVB and the general pension fund APNA can conceivably be addressed with contracts for services to St. Maarten that include adequate participation and representation in these organisations and their assets, with the help of the Dutch Government if necessary, explained Priest. The buildings and other physical properties of the Central Government would go to the island on which they are located.
Priest said it was crucial that the St. Maarten people on Elections Day “rise to the occasion” to put aside their differences and elect 11 knowledgeable political candidates to the Island Council to form a National Unity Government to execute the November 2 accord.
“We have to show we are serious people. Let’s prove that,” said Priest, who is a direct descendant of the famous slave One Tete Lokay. During previous elections Priest campaigned for St. Maarten to become country within the European Union (EU), unified with French St. Martin.
St Maarten vacation rental
