Saba Island Council members sworn in

SABA--The first Island Council of the Public Entity of Saba was officially sworn in Thursday morning.

This is the first Island Council to be elected since the transition and it is the first Island Council that will function under the dualistic system. The day was also historic as there were a record three Island Council meetings held in one day.

However, before the Island Council could take office, the outgoing Island Council had to convene to officially approve the credentials of the incoming Island Council members. This was just a formality and all four members present unanimously approved the credentials. Absent from this meeting was former Island Council member Akilah Levenstone. The Island Governor then adjourned the meeting.

The Island Governor then swore in Bruce Zagers, Chris Johnson, Rolando Wilson, Carl Buncamper and Ishmael Levenstone as the new Island Council of the Public Entity of Saba. After an inspiring invocation by pastor Vernon Liburd, the new members of the Island Council then took the opportunity to give their welcome speeches.

The first to take the floor was Councilman Levenstone, who promised that he would be the "watchdog" of the Island Council and that he would be taking care of the people's business.

Then the floor was given to Council member Rolando Wilson, who thanked former Island Council member Akilah Levenstone for taking time to serve her island and remarked that it had been a privilege to serve with her in the Island Council. He also indicated that he was looking forward to serving with the incoming members of the Island Council.

Island Council member Buncamper was next; he first took the opportunity to congratulate the women on the passing of International Women's Day and said, despite the progress that had been made by women, they were still underrepresented in the political sphere.

He also indicated that that there would be disagreements in the Council and that "honest differences will not divide us, but rather these will only assist us in bring about diversity, causing us to broaden our horizons and thus allowing us to deliver in a more fair and justified manner for our people at large."

Councilman Chris Johnson then spoke in his address about the differences in the dualistic system and the different roles of the Island Council and the Executive Council. He indicated that it was an historic day, with the last Island Council of Saba as the Island Territory of Saba transitioning to the first elected Island Council of the Public Entity of Saba.

The last to speak was Councilman Bruce Zagers, who said that the Saban people had spoken loudly and clearly during the elections of March 2 and had expressed their wish to see himself and Chris Johnson continue to serve as members of the Executive Council.

Despite this he said that, after the swearing-in after the votes were cast for the commissioners, "Vote totals will be put aside. Collectively, we will also have to also put aside petty differences and turn our focus away from election results. Our focus should be at all times on Saba and her people. That is why we have been elected to serve."

After the speeches, two motions were tabled by Island Council members Chris Johnson and Bruce Zagers to elect the Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Central Committee Rolando Wilson and Carl Buncamper, respectively.

Under the new WolBes regulations, voting for persons can only be done by casting written votes. Councilman Levenstone was given the opportunity to motivate his vote and said that he would be abstaining, because he felt that the opportunity should be given to the younger incoming Council members.

The motions were passed with four votes for and one abstention. The meeting was then adjourned and the Island Governor invited everyone to return for the third Island Council meeting of the day, in which the new commissioners would be elected.

The final Island Council meeting of the day was convened at 2:00pm with four Island Council members signing in. Absent without notice was Councilman Ishmael Levenstone. The first order of business was the election of the new commissioners Chris Johnson and Bruce Zagers. Both were elected 3-0, because in the new regulations, an Island Council member may not vote for himself.

The Island Council members then approved the credentials of members of the Windward Islands People's Movement (WIPM) next in line for the Council Eviton Heyliger and Shamara Nicholson. These members were then sworn in, after Councilman Bruce Zagers had resigned and given up his seat to Heyliger and Councilman Chris Johnson had given up his seat to Nicholson.

Both the new Island Council members then took the opportunity to address the Council, with Councilwoman Nicholson giving words of encouragement, despite the tough times that the island was facing, and saying that in many ways Sabans were blessed by God.

Councilman Heyliger in his speech said that, even though he had come from humble beginnings, it was great honour to serve in such an esteemed body. He then called on the young people of the island to be inspired to work hard to achieve their goals.

Source: http://www.thedailyherald.com/islands/1-islands-news/14694-saba-island-council-members-sworn-in.html

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