Page 15 - Online Paper.pdf

THE DAILY HERALD, Thursday, March 16, 2017 Islands 15

ST. EUSTATIUS--Voters There were a few persons Then the green light was giv- to vote had two proxy votes
came out slowly but at a outside Statia’s single polling en to voters as they began to to cast along with their own
steady flow to cast their station at Mike van Putten cast their votes. vote.
votes in Wednesday’s elec- Youth Center (Lions Den) Between 7:30am and Among voters were also
tion for a new Second waiting to get inside to cast 12:00pm, 165 persons had two first-timers, who were
Chamber of the Dutch Par- their vote. cast their votes. At 5:00pm very excited to participate in
liament. The number of early morn- the vote count went up to the election for the first time.
There were 1,875 eli- ing voters was not as large as 310. They seemed very confident
gible voters and the same it usually is for Island Council During the morning hours as they placed their ballots in
amount of voting cards elections, but those that came Civil Registry officials Sheryle the box.
were sent out to be deliv- out went inside to exercise Dossett and Jadrie Rietmei- Some persons on the island
ered to residents. their democratic rights. jer travelled from the Nether- stated that they had not re-
For the first time a resi- Members of the voting bu- lands to upgrade the system ceived their voting cards. 13C:
dent of St. Eustatius was reau were ready to go when and personnel at the Census They came to the voting bu- First-time voters Erieenne Brandao (left) and Lenaria
on the candidates’ list for the ballot opened at 7:30am. Office. They were also at the reau to ask if they could use Brown casting their ballots and some proxy votes in the
a seat in the Dutch Parlia- First, they displayed the bal- voting bureau to observe the their identification or get Second Chamber election.
ment’s Second Chamber in lot box, demonstrating that voting process. Rietmeijer is another card at the voting day, March 14. They were for their card was able to
The Hague, namely Island the ballot box was free and expected to be on the island booth. turned away due to this rule. carry out their democratic
Councilman Koos Sneek of clear and without manipula- for the next seven months. These persons were sad to Some voting cards were rights. Some of these per-
the Democratic Party (DP) tion. After the show, the bal- There was a steady trickling learn that it would be impos- dropped off at the voting sons stated that their voting
who was postulated on the lot box was locked and place in of persons who came out to sible, as the deadline to obtain bureau on Election Day, cards were not delivered to
Christian Democrat CDA’s at the centre of the room. vote. Most persons who came a voting card expired on Tues- but not everyone looking their homes.
list.