PHILIPSBURG (AP) — Voters in Sint Maarten have upheld the Dutch Caribbean territory’s main political party, the National Alliance, in general elections.
The party of the current prime minister, Silveria Jacobs, won four of Parliament’s 15 seats, according to preliminary results released Friday.
The United People’s Party won three seats in Thursday’s election. A handful of smaller parties were elected to remaining seats.
Some of the signs during the 2024 campaign in Sint Maarten were subject to vandalism.
More than 120 candidates from eight parties had vied for a seat in the unicameral Parliament.
Officials reported a 65% voter turnout, with more than 22,500 people registered to vote and some 14,600 votes cast.
The territory’s prime minister will be chosen and appointed by a majority in Parliament.
Sint Maarten, which shares an island with the French territory of Saint Martin, continues to struggle with poverty, human trafficking and a lack of affordable housing.
A new government has formed in Sint Maarten 
The Unified Resilient Sint Maarten Movement (URSM), Democratic Party (DP), Party for Progress (PFP), and Nation Opportunity Wealth (N.O.W.) officially signed a coalition agreement on Saturday evening, marking the beginning of a new era of collaborative governance.