Philipsburg:--- The Presidium of Parliament has invited the candidate that applied for the position of the second deputy secretary general position to meeting. The chairlady of parliament placed the appointment on the agenda on three occasions and it was deferred each time.The candidate Mr. Atwell Terrence Rey is expected to meet with parliament at 10:00am on Thursday. SMN News learnt that the presidium wants to hear directly from the candidate whom they interviewed in February 2011 and assured him that he will be hired as deputy secretary general (policy advisor) since he is the only one who did not pull back his application.
SMN News has been reliably informed that the presidium intends to inform Rey that he cannot get the position he applied for since he lacks certain academic degrees. The source said the presidium will also be making some suggestions on the positions that are still available at parliament to which he can apply for. The members of the United Peoples Party faction are also expected to meet with the chairlady of parliament drs. Gracita Arrindell after the meeting of the presidium and the candidate Atwell Terrence Rey.
The United Peoples Party faction will be discussing the contested appointment since they are not satisfied with the candidate's qualifications. Atwell Terrence Rey, CEO of Air St. Maarten and owner of GFR enterprises was the campaign manager of Gracita Arrindell. The National Alliance faction already indicated that the procedures to appoint Rey was tainted and it was not transparent. Leader of the National Alliance William Marlin already cautioned parliament that they should not use any backdoor procedures to appoint the chairlady's campaign manager because that would disdain the integrity of parliament.