POND ISLAND--“Seize opportunities” was the call issued by Governor Eugene Holiday to the newly sworn-in Leona Romeo-Marlin Cabinet II.
St. Maarten’s seventh cabinet in under eight years since the attainment of country-within-the-Dutch-Kingdom status took the oath of office on Monday, a week shy of the four-month mark since the February 26 snap elections. It is also days before the constitutional deadline of July 2 for current Public Health Minister Emil Lee to relinquish one of his dual posts – Member of Parliament and minister.
The Governor in the first constituting meeting of the new Council of Ministers in the Government Administration Building said there is still “a whole lot of work to done to meet the needs of the people” especially in employment and housing.
In tackling their Herculean task, the Governor urged the ministers “to do so from the perspective of opportunities” and called on civil society and the private sector to support them “as they look to create opportunities ... to rebuild a sustainable St. Maarten.”
The challenges, 10 months after the devastation of Hurricane Irma, “weigh heavy,” he said, “but opportunities give energy needed.”
Among the clear opportunities to build back better, according to the Governor, are strengthening the country’s infrastructure via a hurricane-resilient building code, tackling the constantly burning landfill and implementing a sustainable waste management plan, restoring Princess Juliana International Airport to its prominence, propelling and supporting the rebuilding of hotels and restaurants, ensuring better healthcare and revitalising the country’s capital and commercial centre Philipsburg.
The strengthening of a solid relationship with the Netherlands and the World Bank to reignite the economy is also a key opportunity, said the Governor.
The seizing of opportunities is not in a vacuum – it stems from “sound financial management,” a path the Governor urged the new Council of Ministers to take to restore the country in this post-hurricane period.
The Governor said he trusts that in keeping with their oath, they will seize opportunities aimed at serving the people.
Following the Governor’s address the ministers signed the substituting decree outlining replacements in case of absence.
Prime Minister/General Affairs Minister Leona Romeo-Marlin will be replaced by Education, Culture, Youth and Sports Minister Wycliffe Smith.
Finance Minister Perry Geerlings will be replaced by Lee.
Justice Minister Cornelius de Weever will be replaced by Romeo-Marlin.
Smith will be replaced by Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunications Minister Stuart Johnson.
Lee will be replaced by Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure Miklos Giterson.
Johnson will be replaced by Geerlings and Giterson by De Weever.
If both the minister and the replacement are absent, the prime minister or deputy prime minister will take charge of the portfolio. In the event all four are absent, the oldest minister will take up the seat.
Rounding off the cabinet are new Minister Plenipotentiary Jorien Wuite and Michael Somersall as deputy minister.
The Leona Romeo-Marlin II replaced the five-month interim cabinet that was also headed by the current prime minister. That cabinet came into place following a shift in parliamentary majority after Hurricane Irma. The interim cabinet was installed to see the country into the February 26 snap election.
The current Council of Ministers is supported by the United Democrats/St. Maarten Christian Party (SMCP) coalition in Parliament. The coalition has eight seats – seven of the United Democrats and one of SMCP.
The swearing-in of the new ministers created two vacant seats in Parliament due to Lee and Smith becoming ministers. Those seats are to go to the next highest vote-getter on the United Democrats slate who is not already in the legislature – former MP Tamara Leonard and the one on the SMCP slate, Claude Peterson.
