Meyers, Leonard, Rawtani elected to Chamber board

~ Large turnout amidst rumours of efforts to control chamber ~

PHILIPSBURG--Businesspersons turned out in large numbers to vote in the St. Maarten Chamber of Commerce elections on Friday amidst rumours that efforts are being made by a group to "control the Chamber."

A record number of 362 persons turned out to vote in the election, which was won by Abdul Meyers representing large businesses and Tamara Leonard and Ajay Rawtani representing small businesses.

Elections Committee Chairman Franklin Bryson said the turnout was the largest in history and was some four times more than the average number of persons who usually turned out to vote. Some 60-plus persons voted in last year's election and on a "good election year" close to 100 would turn out, Bryson said.

Of the 334 persons who voted in the small business category 103 voted for Leonard and 80 for Rawtani. Of the 28 who voted in the large business category 14 voted for Meyers. Other top candidates in the election were Ann Meyers and Eugene James, who pulled 75 votes each, and Rolando Bryson, who accumulated 48 votes.

A long queue was evident at the Chamber building from the opening of the polls yesterday until the polls closed at noon, when a large number of persons were still in line to cast their ballots.

Talk leading up to the election as well as on the scene was about efforts by a political party to control the Chamber by having its supporters occupy positions on the board. Asked about these reports, Bryson said he too had heard the rumours about efforts to control the chamber, but saw nothing, and the main task of the elections committee was to oversee the election process.

He said too that he did not understand why anyone would want to "control" the Chamber, as it "had nothing."

Other candidates in the election were Maria Mercedes "Elektra" Wyatt, Louis Bute, Bernardo de Castro, Michel Hodge, Patrick Muller, Kaishah Peters, Charlise Philips and Charles Thomas for small businesses, and De Castro, James, Ann Meyers, Philips, and Thomas for large businesses.

Chamber President Glen Carty commended the newly elected members. "The turnout was historic. I look forward to working with the new members. The Chamber and private sector can only benefit from their enthusiasm and drive," he said.

Source: http://www.thedailyherald.com/islands/1-islands-news/23124-meyers-leonard-rawtani-elected-to-chamber-board-.html

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