St. Maarten Private Eye

Hello there George McGee,
I agree with your manifesto, although I am sure there must be more to your wanting of transparency and open governance.
I found this simple text book on how our government works, knowing that many students from USM and other schools use this site for their educational information I will hereby add it for theirs and others benefit.

A. The most important governing bodies on the island of St.Maarten are;
1.The Island Council
2.The Executive Council
3.The office of the Lt. Governor

THE ISLAND COUNCIL
1.The island council is the legislative part of government and it represents ALL the people of the island territory of St.Maarten.
2.The Island Council is allowed to make certain laws for the island.
3.Eligible voters elect the Island Council members. For the voter to be eligible, he or she must be 18 years or older and have the Dutch Nationality.
4. Island Council elections are held every 4 years.
5.The elected Island Council must appoint at least half of the Commissioners from among the Island Council. **Mcgee pay attention to this-half it says, not all.
6.The Lt.Governor is the chairperson of the island Council but he is not allowed to to vote in any decisions made in the meeting. he has to make sure that the meeting goes well and that the rules of the meeting are obeyed.

The EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
1.The Executive Council is the executive branch of government.
2.The members of the EXCO are NOT ELECTED ! They do not run for elections.
3.The EXCO is in charge of the daily administration of St.Maarten. THEY HAVE TO RUN THE COUNTRY.
4.The Lt. Governor is the chairperson of the EXCO and can vote for or against decisions made in the meeting.
5.Executive Council meetings are held on St.Maarten normally every Tuesday and Thursday mornings.
**It is in these EXCO meetings that the Lt. governor or the acting Lt. Governor can sign any documents along with the EXCO members. I do believe 3 signatures are needed (please correct me if I am wrong)

Mcgee, there must be some more things can be changed, I for one would lobby for a totally independent Lt.Governor and acting Lt. Governor even if this position should be filled from the outside, Holland or other Islands in the NA.
With country status we would be getting a Prime Minister, but as Commissioner Wescott assured the public recently, she has no idea about a new date for country SXM. Thus remains a hallucination of a Country.