Are you happy with the direction New Status is going?
Yes, I'm very happy.
5%
I'm comfortable with it.
5%
I have some worries and doubts.
18%
I am very unhappy with it, anxious for the future of the island and people.
23%
Higher Supervision, New Referendum, All 'New Status' Options openly debated please!
50%
Total votes: 22
Maria's resignation.
Anonymous (not verified) | Tue, 2008-07-08 05:49
Maria resigned. Many are now confused as to her position.
We read above that the council "now has the option to dismiss her" or "that she needs to be removed from office" and all sort of other nonsense demonstrating the poor level of understanding by the press.
In reality the Council doesn't have to dismiss Maria because she resigned already. When a commissioner resigns, she or he stays in power until a new commissioner is appointed to the vacant position. That's what the law says.
The dilemma is this. Maria remains an Island Council member. The Island Council must appoint the new commissioner. Any new commissioner must thus have the support from Maria to get the 6-5 vote needed for the appointment. The only one who will get her vote for sure, is Maria herself. That is why Sara talks about reappointing her. There is hardly another choice.
Is that good governance and best practices? Nobody knows. The Sint Maarten good (corporate) governance en best practices rules are kept a secret to the world. Nobody has ever seen them. Do they even exist? I guess everybody should judge any such reappointment by their own standards.
But on a different note. Who embezzled that 100 grand from Telem? I think people are entitled to know. He/she may be applying for a job with any other government company soon.
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