PHILIPSBURG, St Maarten, CMC:
PRIME MINISTER Etienne Ys yesterday confirmed that his coalition government had lost its majority and was now preparing for possible fresh elections in the Netherlands Antilles.
The Netherlands Antilles is a five-island Dutch overseas territory, of which the semi-autonomous Central Government is seated in Curacao. The Central Government coalition is made up of parties of all islands, Curacao, Bonaire, St. Maarten, Saba and St. Eustatius.
Ys cabinet had enjoyed a 13- seat majority in the Parliament, but the Prime Minister lost his majority after its coalition partner, UPB-Bonaire, announced over the weekend that it was dissatisfied with the Central Government's support for Bonaire.
"We have lost our majority so the Government falls. The Governor now has to decide what will happen," the Prime Minister said.
At the centre of the controversy is the financial assistance to the island's hospital and airport.
