Marigot:--- The twenty three member territorial council of St. Martin that was elected on March 25th at the end of the second round of the Territorial Council election was officially installed on Sunday where Alain Richardson the leader of the RRR was elected President for the next five years unanimously.
The RRR nominated their party leader Alain Richardson for the post of President while the six members of Team Daniel Gibbs voted in favor of Richardson being the President of the 23-member council as they chose to respect the wishes of the voters. It should be noted that Guillaume Arnel was off island on family business but he left his proxy vote for the installation ceremony. President Alain Richardson voted for second vice president Guillaume Arnel.
Members of the executive council were also established on Sunday. They are President Alain Richardson, first vice president Aline Hanson, second vice president Guillaume Arnel, third vice president Ramona Conner, fourth vice president Wendell Cocks with members Rosette Gumbs-Lake and Daniel Gibbs.
Shortly after the installation of the council, President Alain Richardson gave his general address on how he intends to govern St. Martin for the next five years. President Richardson called on the people to have patience and most importantly to unite and roll up their sleeves as they work on building St. Martin together.
The first territorial council meeting was also held on Sunday where the 23 member council voted on two deliberations. The first was to give the President his signing power while 10 million Euros were voted for the operations of the Collectivity for the first year. The annual budget for the Collectivity's operations including salaries will be voted upon on an annual basis.
A large crowd of people including dignitaries from Anguilla and the Dutch side of the island attended the ceremony. However, St. Martin's senator Louis Constant Fleming and the state representative Prefet Philippe Chopin did not attend.
Members of the Parliament of St. Maarten from the United Peoples Party, the National Alliance along with Independent Members Frans Richardson and Patrick Illidge were among the Members of the Council of Ministers at the ceremony. Governor Eugene Holiday and first lady Marie Louisa also attended the swearing in ceremony and the first territorial council meeting.
Invocation was done by the superintendent of the Methodist Church Steve Brooks, with songs done by Don Froston. A special song for the council was done by the President's brother Addy Richardson and his daughter Sharissa. At the end of the official ceremony, the President and members of the Council gathered in the garden of the Collectivity where the official toast was conducted.
Click here to view more photos of the installation of the 23 member Territorial Council.