Unbiased look at the Sint Maarten Elections
HARBOUR VIEW--The names of the minister candidates for the new cabinet were submitted to Governor Eugene Holiday by formateur United People's (UP) leader Theo Heyliger on Wednesday. The security and judicial screenings of the candidates for the post of prime minister, the six other ministers and minister plenipotentiary has commenced, according to the governor's cabinet.
Holiday and Heyliger met yesterday to discuss the progress of the formation process. Heyliger has to submit his final report on the formation process to the governor by November 30.
It is understood that the governor is following the established screening regulations of St. Maarten with some additional questions seeking more information from candidates.
In a separate press statement, Heyliger confirmed that his name had not been submitted as a candidate for the post of prime minister. It is tipped that veteran politician Marcel Gumbs has been nominated for the post of prime minister.
While neither the governor's statement nor Heyliger's gave the names of any candidate ministers, Democratic Party ((DP)) leader Member of Parliament Sarah Wescot-Williams told the press of two candidates submitted by MP Cornelius de Weever to Heyliger (see related story): former MP Leroy de Weever for Minister of Public Health and School Principal Rita Bourne-Gumbs for Minister of Education.
It is expected that former minister in the Netherlands Antilles Government Richard Gibson Sr. has been put forward as the possible candidate for Finance Minister while Justice Minister Dennis Richardson is expected to continue in his post.
Attorney-at-Law Peggy Ann Brandon is said to be the candidate for Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure VROMI.
St. Maarten Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Claret Conner is said to be the candidate for Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication.
Current Deputy Minister Plenipotentiary in The Hague Josianne Artsen is said to be the candidate for the Minister Plenipotentiary.
