~ Robert Jan James also a candidate, applied at all government-owned companies. ~
PHILIPSBURG: --- Alexander Gumbs a former employee of the Harbor Group of Companies is the preferred candidate that will be taking up the vacant position of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at the Harbor Group of Companies. Gumbs one of three candidates that applied for the position last year, came out as one of the top candidates based on the report that is yet to reach the Council of Ministers.
Alexander Gumbs began working at the Harbor Group of Companies in 2010 as an intern and was hired in 2012 as the Business Development Officer, he was then promoted to Business and Marketing Manager prior to resigning from the government-owned company in June 2019 to take up Director of Operations and Development with Carnival Corporation the parent company of Carnival Cruises.
Of the candidates that applied for the position, Alexander Gumbs is the only candidate that has the required knowledge and experience in the Cruise Industry. SMN News learned that Gumbs resigned from his position with the Carnival Corporation and returned home and applied for the position at the Harbor Group of Companies as he is eager to continue working and serving his native island St. Maarten.
Another candidate that also came in a high place is Robert Jan James, James was already selected by the Council of Ministers to occupy the CEO position at N.V GEBE.
Robert Jan James also a local St. Maarten professional is a pilot by profession, he was also the first representative of Civil Aviation of the Netherlands Antilles on St. Maarten, he then left that position and took up a permanent job at SOL. James was appointed Director of SOL, the company he worked for years.
Reliable information reaching SMN News states that while the selection process was completed which was also confirmed by the Minister of TEATT Ludmilla de Weever last week, the Council of Minister is still awaiting the official report from the Supervisory Board of Directors on the selected candidates. The Supervisory Board of Directors has to submit two names to the Council of Ministers for the COM to select the recommended candidate. Seeing that the COM already selected James for NV GEBE it is very unlikely that he will be selected for a second CEO position.
It is expected that the selection process will be finalized within the month of January at latest February in order to give the selected CEO the opportunity to prepare for the return of Cruise Ships to St. Maarten's port of entry.
