Unbiased look at the Sint Maarten Elections
PHILIPSBURG--It appears that efforts to put together a new cabinet have come up a few ministers short. Four of the minister candidates reportedly have failed the extensive screening to take up a post in what has been billed as the Marcel Gumbs Cabinet.
Those said to have failed the security and integrity screenings are finance minister candidate Richard Gibson Sr., health minister candidate Leroy de Weever, infrastructure minister candidate Peggy-Ann Brandon and deputy minister plenipotentiary candidate Lucas Berman.
According to people close to the issue, attorney and former minister in the Netherlands Antilles Gibson Sr. failed due to a harassment complaint against him, as well as another one brought by his wife.
Attorney Brandon has been flagged because she is a partner in the law firm with former justice minister Roland Duncan, who is said to have links to the prostitution business.
Former Democratic Party MP Leroy de Weever has against him a complaint brought by a woman who claims he hit her.
Attorney Berman apparently had some run-in with the law in his youth.
Prime Minister candidate former Netherlands Antilles Member of Parliament (MP) Marcel Gumbs is said to have passed the screening along with current Justice Minister Dennis Richardson, education minister candidate Rita Bourne-Gumbs, tourism and economic affairs minister candidate Claret Connor and minister plenipotentiary candidate Josianne Artsen.
This leaves formateur United People's (UP) party leader MP Theo Heyliger as of Friday afternoon one minister short of a minimal cabinet of five ministers. Only four of the five ministers are to stay on island once Artsen takes up her post in the Netherlands. This leaves the cabinet one minister short of a quorum.
It could be expected with the draft 2015 budget being a major issue facing the incoming government that current Finance Minister Martin Hassink may remain in his post for now as long as he passes the screenings.
Hassink already indicated to the press last week his willingness to stay on in his post if requested. However, he had the caveat that he would stay for only a year, with the goal of completing the 2015 draft budget.
