There was quite some news over the weekend with Christophe Emmanuel leaving National Alliance (NA) and continuing as independent Member of Parliament (MP). That was followed by word that the board of Princess Juliana International Airport Holding (PJIAH) had asked CEO Brian Mingo of operating company PJIAE to resign.
Emmanuel’s move while perhaps unexpected at this time did not come as a complete surprise, considering positions taken by him in the recent past deviating from those of the NA faction. The elected representative stopped short of withdrawing his support from the current NA/United People’s (UP) party government, but keep in mind that he never signed the related coalition agreement.
To be sure, the Jacobs Cabinet continues to be backed by nine of the 15 seats in the legislature. There is no longer a two-thirds majority, if such even really existed considering Emmanuel’s attitude, only needed to make certain basic law changes like amending the Constitution.
This development cannot – at least for now – be considered a case of so-called “ship-jumping” because the MP did not say he was joining the opposition or affiliating himself with another party, although there is much speculation about the latter. It may be a while before the public learns of his future political plans, as the next regularly scheduled election is not until January 2024.
Mingo took up the post of PJIAE director on January 7, 2019, less than two years ago. The holding’s letter giving him notice that also went to the operating company’s Supervisory Board, the Council of Ministers and Parliament included a warning that failure to step down voluntarily would result in pursuing legal termination in court, which could very well be where this matter ends up.
The main reasons cited for what amounts to a dismissal were a growing lack of confidence in his leadership and delays in the Post-Hurricane Irma terminal reconstruction project. Lack of progress in realising a US pre-clearance facility and fixed based operations (FBO) building as well as relocating the fuel farm was also mentioned, plus a strained relationship with management and staff.
To what extent these arguments are justified under the circumstances is difficult to determine “from the outside looking in,” but there is now major concern that this latest move and its aftermath could lead to even more postponement of the all-important airport project. The latter is something nobody needs.
