St. Maarten Private Eye

The real problem is is not tht we have not any problems in the past 5 years, the real main concern is, a drunk can be manipulated into a promise for a vote and when he awakens from the hangover the next morning, naturally his mind is foggy. This is just another way of buying votes. I personally think that if one appears to be intoxiccated they shoud not be allowed in the voting booth. One is supposed to be in their right mind to vote, not an altered mind.

Apparently she isn't too concerned that cell phones have an on/off switch and is happy to accept this half assed poor decision by Richards.

St Maarten News Network

GRACITA CONGRATULATES LT. GOVERNOR For ENFORCING THE LAW

Philipsburg:- Leader of the Peoples Progressive Party Gracita Arrindell in a press release said that far too long the society has allowed corrupt politicians and their agents and collaborators to pollute and taint the election process by buying and selling of votes.

Arrindell stated that “vote buying and vote selling is a crime and has always been a crime that must be stopped if there is to be a progressive and enlightened society. The said society have allowed a small island as St. Maarten to be on sale for many years during the Island Council and Federal Government elections.

"When the people sell their vote for a stove, a fridge, a utility bill paid or receive something else of value including cash, in exchange for your vote, our people are giving away a prized and cherished right that was earned after many years of pain and struggle of our forefathers. You deserve better. the release states.

During 2003 and 2006, Arrindell said she wrote a letter to the Lt. Governor, the Chief Commissioner of Police and the Public Prosecutor asking that they take action because of the long history of these practices and the impact these practices have on a free and fair election’.

She said that he facts are not unknown to the people of this island that voters come into Government Buildings and Faction Offices to collect money and other things of value, in exchange for their vote, from public officials and persons acting on their behalf. She said that very frequently she is told of political parties canvassing in the neighborhoods and offering and giving voters, in exchange for their vote, money or other things of value including US 50 dollars food vouchers, to vote for a specific candidate or political party. Since voter fraud and vote buying and selling go to the very heart of a democratic society, she said she is delighted at this first step of outlawing the taking of pictures and the use of cell phones in polling stations.

This action by the Lt. Governor and the Main Voting Bureau confirms, in the clearest terms possible, that vote buying and selling taints the ballot and compromises the will of the people of this island. It is no secret that one or more political parties on this small island manage and elaborate schemes of voter fraud and vote buying and selling by recording names and amounts or things of value.”

“The outlawing of picture taking in the voting booth means these corrupt politicians will not now know whether the votes they purchased were in fact voted as promised. This banning of picture taking will mean that the people can vote their will and their choices without fear of reprisal.” Arrindell said.

“She said she also call on the Public Prosecutor to use its investigative resources to arrest persons who violate the election law by either offering to make a payment for a vote or accepting a payment for a vote in this all important Island Council election. We also call upon the Public Prosecutor to issue statements advising the public that vote buying and vote selling is a crime and that its office will punish persons for violating the election laws.”