Unbiased look at the Sint Maarten Elections
PHILIPSBURG--Attorney Lucas Berman is said to be the candidate minister for the post of deputy minister plenipotentiary in The Hague.
Providing he passes the security and integrity screening, Berman will join the minister plenipotentiary in representing the country in the Netherlands, particularly at the meeting of the Kingdom Council of Ministers. Minister plenipotentiary is expected to be Josianne Artsen, who currently serves as deputy minister plenipotentiary.
Berman, a junior partner with Lexwell Attorneys-at-Law, was born in Toulouse, France, and was raised in the Netherlands. He graduated from Leiden University with a Bachelor's degree and Amsterdam University with a Master's degree in Dutch law. He has been practising law in St. Maarten since 2010.
Berman is part of the incoming "Marcel Gumbs" Cabinet. The screening of the new Cabinet members is still ongoing.
Formateur of the new Cabinet United People's (UP) party leader Theo Heyliger will submit his final report in the screening of the Cabinet members to Governor Eugene Holiday on December 16, the day after Kingdom Day.
Other members of the incoming Cabinet of the UP/De Weever/Marlin-Romeo coalition include veteran politician Marcel Gumbs for prime minister. He has served in the Parliament of the Netherlands Antilles for many years as a Member of Parliament and as state secretary. He is currently a member of the Advisory Council of St. Maarten.
Former Minister in the Netherlands Antilles Richard Gibson Sr.'s name has been suggested as the candidate for the position of finance minister. Justice Minister Dennis Richardson is being considered 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.
A possible candidate for education minister is said to be Rita Gumbs, principal of M. Genevieve De Weever Primary School.
Current Labour Department Head Peggy Ann Dros-Richardson is said to be a possible candidate for minister of public health, social development and labour.
The screening of minister candidates covers a background review of personal and professional credentials, their financial positions, fiscal compliance (tax and social security premiums), a judicial check for possible suspicious transactions, the security background and, if necessary, the health condition of the candidates.
The purpose of the screening is to assess the integrity, independence and solvency of the candidates, as well as the stability of the new government, according to a statement from the governor's Cabinet issued on Friday.
The current Wescot-Williams III Cabinet has been in office as a caretaker government since the August 29 Parliamentary Elections.
This is the first time in St. Maarten's history, pre- and post-country status, that it has been without a new Cabinet following an election.
