Philipsburg:--- The Council of Ministers comprised of members of the National Alliance, the Democratic Party, and persons appointed by the three Independent Members of Parliament found themselves in a predicament when they learnt that the Corporate Governance Council (CGC) headed by Louis Duzanzon was never legalized through a Landsbesluit. According to information provided to SMN News, on May 11th, 2009 the Island Council of St. Maarten established an Island Resolution no: 930 which established the Corporate Governance Council. Article 4 of that Island Resolution states that the members of the Corporate Governance Council will last for a period of four years, meaning they will be in office until 2013. Information provided to SMN News states that the new constellation which was established after 10/10/10 did not verify if the Island Resolution that was established in May 2009 was still valid and neither did they issue a Landsbesluit to ensure that the CGC is fully established in accordance with the law.
SMN News learnt that while the members of the Corporate Governance Council received a letter on December 3rd, 2009 from the former Lt. Governor of St. Maarten Franklyn Richards informing them that they were the selected members for the Council, the Lt. Governor St. Maarten at the time never signed off on the official Landsbesluit that would make the council a legal body on St. Maarten. Former Lt. Governor Franklyn Richards told SMN News on Sunday evening that the island resolution was in place which established the council and therefore there was no need for a Landsbesluit, since he did not have the power to issue Landsbesluits. Richards said that he left office in June 2010 on vacation and his tenure ended on October 10th, 2010 when St. Maarten became a country within the Kingdom.
In an invited comment, Chairman of the Corporate Governance Council Louis Duzanzon confirmed to SMN News that the members of the Corporate Governance Council received a letter on December 3rd, 2009 informing them of their nomination while on February 4th, 2010 they were called in by the former Executive Council where they were appointed, but to date they have not received any Landsbesluit from the Governor's office indicating that the Corporate Governance Council is a legal body.
While the Corporate Governance Council has been operating as one of the High Councils of State that has a lifespan of four years, they were never given an office space and monies to operate for the government of St. Maarten. The coalition formed by the United Peoples Party and Democratic Party used their services on several occasions, yet those in office never sought to ensure that the CGC got the finances and material they needed to function optimally. SMN News has been reliably informed that the current government just recently found out that the Corporate Governance Council has no Landsbesluit when they began the process to re-appoint the High Councils of State such as the Council of Advice and the General Audit Chamber. Duzanson told SMN News on Sunday that to date he neither the other members of the council have been paid for the services they rendered to Country St. Maarten.
The other High Councils of State have to be reappointed since their two year lifespan ended some months ago.
SMN News contacted the Governor of St. Maarten drs. Holiday to inquire whether or not a Landsbesluit was issued for the Corporate Governance Council, Governor Holiday said he will not comment on any matter to the media.
Click here to view the letters sent to members of the CGC by the Former Lt. Governor.
