Unbiased look at the Sint Maarten Elections
~ Political talks begin with USP, and incoming UP MP.~
PHILIPSBURG:--- The Council of Ministers officially suspended the Managing Director of the Princess Juliana International Holding Company Dexter Doncher. Doncher was informed of the suspension by letter late Wednesday night after the Council of Ministers held an emergency meeting and voted. Dexter Doncher was given a warning letter two days prior to the three months suspension.
The Council of Ministers wanted to fire Doncher who followed the instructions of the government to officially dismiss the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Princess Juliana International Airport, Brian Mingo on April 7th. Mingo then filed an injunction against his termination and the judge ruled in favor of Mingo due to a technical error in the dismissal procedure.
SMN News learned that the interim Minister of TEATT Ludmilla de Weever who instructed Doncher to start the dismissal process wanted to fire Doncher now that the court of first instance ruled in his favor and most importantly because the Dutch Government chose to withhold the fifth tranche of liquidity support from the government of St. Maarten.
State Secretary of Kingdom Relations Raymond Knops sent a letter on Wednesday to Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs informing her that unless she deals with the matters at the Princess Juliana International Airport St. Maarten will not be getting the promised Naf39.M for liquidity support. Knops said that the Prime Minister of St. Maarten failed in her duties because she did not intervene in the ongoing saga and PJIAE when she was called upon.Reliable sources have informed SMN News that the only Minister that stood up for Doncher was recently appointed Minister of VSA Omar Ottley who maintained the stance of the United Peoples Party that is totally against the suspension and dismissal of Dexter Doncher whom they said followed the instructions given to him by the shareholder representatives. The source said that Doncher met with Ministers that were appointed by the National Alliance that also instructed him to fire Mingo since they have all lost confidence in the CEO.
Now that the Council of Ministers has suspended Dexter Doncher, SMN News learned that political talks have begun with USP Faction Leader MP Claudius Buncamper and the National Alliance while the board of the USP was not consulted. In an invited comment, MP Claudius Buncamper said he did not hold any formation talks with anyone. However, he also heard that talks are taking place. It is also said that talks were also held with incoming Member of Parliament Ludmilla de Weever whom it is understood will move away from the United Peoples Party and declare herself as an independent member of parliament as soon as she takes office.
It has been speculated that the Jacobs 2 cabinet with not survive its full term since the Prime Minister of St. Maarten has been accused by her coalition partners of accepting all the conditions and blackmail placed on St. Maarten by the Dutch Government in order to secure the much-needed liquidity support. SMN News further learned that former leader of the National Alliance William Marlin will soon resign from Parliament to allow someone else to take up the seat in parliament.
