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.

Main office holders
Office Name Party Since
King Willem-Alexander 30 April 2013
Governor Eugene Holiday 10 October 2010

The current cabinet is the Marlin cabinet formed on 19 November 2015. It is the fifth since Sint Maarten became a country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands on 10 October 2010.[1]

Main office holders
Office Name Party Since
Prime Minister William Marlin NA 19 November 2015
Minister of Housing, Physical Planning, and Environment William Marlin (interim) NA 19 November 2015
Minister of Finance Richard Gibson Sr. 19 November 2015
Minister of Justice Richard Gibson Sr. (interim) 19 November 2015
Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunications Irania Arrindell 19 November 2015
Minister of Healthcare, Social Development, and Labor Emil Lee DP 19 November 2015
Minister of Education, Culture, Youth, and Sports Silveria Jacobs NA 19 November 2015
Minister Plenipotentiary of Sint Maarten Henrietta Doran-York NA 19 November 2015

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

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