PHILIPSBURG--The Electoral Law only regulates the use on the ballot of colours assigned to political parties, not in political paraphernalia. This has left Social Reform Party (SRP) leader Jacinto Mock in a bind with his assigned colour "blue."

 

Mock submitted to the Central Voting Bureau, Justice Minister Dennis Richardson, Sollicitor-General Taco Stein and Ombudsman Nilda Arduin on Monday letters protesting the use of blue by the United St. Maarten (US) party of independent Member of Parliament (MP) Frans Richardson.

SRP was awarded blue as its colour on the ballot for the August 29 Parliamentary Elections by the luck of the draw on Friday, because the US party also requested the same colour. The US party has been using blue as its signature colour since its launch in December 2013 and in its campaign materials since July 11. That party had to settle for cyan after its preferred blue went to SRP, which has no campaign material in public as yet.

 

Mock met with a representative of the Central Voting Bureau on Monday afternoon, who informed him that nothing could be done to persuade the US party to remove its posters and other materials, as the law only regulates the colour on the ballot and nowhere else.

 

Mock is of the opinion that when a party is awarded a colour such as blue, that party has the right to all the shades of blue in the spectrum. From that standpoint, he does not believe cyan should have been on the list of approved colours. Cyan is made by mixing equal amounts of green and blue light.

 

He also said the law should be amended to regulate the use of the colour not only on the ballot, but also in the public domain to avoid confusing voters.

 

By continuing to use its blue posters, US party is "deceiving the public," "causing chaos" and is "misrepresenting the meaning of the colour," said Mock, who is the lone candidate on his party's slate. Blue represents "the portfolio of health ... it is not just about Hollywood. They should stop using it."

 

Asked whether he had spoken to US party leader Frans Richardson, Mock said, "I did not get his number, so I could not talk to him."

 

(The Daily Herald)