Government of Sint Maarten
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The government of Sint Maarten, a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, is formed by the monarch, represented by the governor, and the ministers. The prime minister presides the council of ministers. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and parliament. The minister plenipotentiary is not part of the government and represents the Sint Maarten government in the Netherlands. The judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature. The country is a parliamentary representative democratic country with a multi-party system. Sint Maarten has full autonomy on most matters, with the exceptions summed up in the Charter for the Kingdom of the Netherlands under the title "Kingdom affairs". The Constitution of Sint Maarten was ratified in September 2010, and entered into force on 10 October 2010.
Executive power
Executive power rests with a governor, and a prime minister heads a Cabinet. The governor of Sint Maarten is appointed for a six-year term by the monarch, and the prime minister and deputy prime minister are elected by the Staten for four-year terms.
| Office | Name | Party | Since |
|---|---|---|---|
| King | Willem-Alexander | 30 April 2013 | |
| Governor | Eugene Holiday | 10 October 2010 |
The current cabinet is the third Wescot-Williams cabinet formed on 14 June 2013:[1]
| Office | Name | Party | Since |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prime Minister | Sarah Wescot-Williams | DP | 14 June 2013 |
| Minister of Housing, Physical Planning, and Environment | Maurice A. Lake | UP | 14 June 2013 |
| Minister of Finance | Martinus J. Hassink | 14 June 2013 | |
| Minister of Justice | Dennis L. Richardson | 14 June 2013 | |
| Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunications | Thadeus Richardson | 25 July 2013[2] | |
| Minister of Healthcare, Social Development, and Labor | Cornelius de Weever | DP | 14 June 2013 |
| Minister of Education, Culture, Youth, and Sports | Patricia D. Lourens-Philip | DP | 14 June 2013 |
| Minister Plenipotentiary of Sint Maarten | Mathias Voges | DP | 14 June 2013 |
| Deputy Minister Plenipotentiary of Sint Maarten | Josianne Fleming-Artsen | UP | 25 July 2013 |
Legislative power
Legislative power is shared by the government and the legislature. The legislature or Staten is made up of 15 members elected by direct, popular vote to serve four-year terms.
Judicial power
Sint Maarten's judicial system, which has mainly been derived from the Dutch system, operates independently of the legislature and the executive. Jurisdiction, including appeal, lies with the Common Court of Justice of Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten, and of Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba and the Supreme Court of Justice in the Netherlands.
References
- ↑ "Ministers sworn in, urged to protect integrity of democracy". The Daily Herald. 2013-06-15. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
- ↑ "Appointment and swearing in of minister of tourism and deputy minister plenipotentiary". The Today Newspaper. 2013-07-29. Retrieved 29 November 2014.