~ Schmidt to return as commissioner~
ST. EUSTATIUS--After having been sidelined for ten months after the March 2011 Island Council election, the Democratic Party (DP) of St. Eustatius is on its way back to power. On Saturday, it signed a governing accord with independent Island Council member Millicent Lijfrock-Marsdin.
The DP/Lijfrock coalition will be holding a three-two majority in the Island Councils, with United People's Coalition (UPC) and St. Eustatius Empowerment Party (STEP) holding one seat each.
Most remarkably, Glenville Schmidt, who was voted out of office in December 2011, will return to the Executive Council. He is set to become commissioner together with current DP Island Councilman Koos Sneek.
The UPC/PLP/STEP coalition lost its majority in the Island Council on Wednesday after UPC-leader Reginald Zaandam withdrew his support of the Executive Council.
One day later, Lijfrock left the Progressive Labour Party (PLP) of party leader and Commissioner Clyde van Putten, leaving this party without representation in the Island Council.
Commissioners Clyde van Putten (PLP) and Koert Kerkhoff (STEP) have, however, not vacated their seats in the Executive Council as yet. It is expected that the change in government will be voted on during an Island Council meeting to be held later this week, possibly Thursday.
Van Putten will probably disclose his next steps during a press-conference to be held later today, Monday.
Witnessed by a large group of supporters, the DP and Lijfrock signed an agreement at Flamboyant Boutique to form a new island government on Saturday afternoon. The documents were signed by Lijfrock and DP-party leader Reuben Merkman.
It was agreed that new commissioner Koos Sneek will be responsible for the portfolios of finance and economic affairs, health care, constitutional and legal affairs, tourism, energy and water distribution, personnel and organisation, general affairs, and information and automation.
As commissioner, Schmidt will be responsible for spatial planning, traffic, transportation and telecommunication, housing, public works, agriculture, fishery and animal husbandry, social affairs, education, culture and sports, labour, women/gender and youth affairs.
In a document called "Roadmap to a government for the people of Statia" the new coalition partners stated that St. Eustatius "deserves a stable and competent government that will lead citizens through the tough times ahead. A government dedicated to bringing about necessary political, social, economical and cultural improvements."
DP and Lijfrock felt that now was the time to take the challenges heads on. "Both partners intend to work together as a team on the basis of mutual respect. We endeavour to take our responsibilities serious and work toward making a positive turn in the way that our island is governed," the document read.
The coalition pledged to work toward the eradication of poverty, the promotion of sustainable economic growth and improvement of the general welfare of people.
"The financial management of our island will be upgraded with the goal of lifting the preliminary financial supervision and adhering to the laws that govern the finances of St. Eustatius. Current challenges in the fields of healthcare, the expansion of NuStar, the transfer of shares of NV GEBE, as well as the location of the new prison will be dealt with in a forthright and expeditious manner," it was pledged.
Merkman commended Lijfrock for stepping out of the PLP. "It takes someone who loves Statia to do something like that. We were impressed and also stepped up to the plate to do the right thing. We also held consultation with the UPC, but when council lady Lijfrock got on board, we felt she would be the person we could work with in preparing a better future for our people."
He said the talks with Lijfrock had run very smoothly. "Every issue was ironed out without any fuss."
With Sneek and Schmidt as commissioners Statia would have two of the most capable persons working on the people's behalf, Merkman said.
Lijfrock explained her leaving the PLP and teaming up with the DP in stating she had "mixed feelings" from when she had joined the PLP. She was the party's number-two candidate in last year's Island Council election.
"It was done in the best interest of Statia. It was not about Millie. Statia can be a better Statia, not by me alone but with all hands on deck. Together with the DP, me and my team will work and do what is right, for the best interest of the island and make it a better place for all."
Explaining why he did not become a commissioner, Merkman said that as a school teacher he did not want to leave his students in the exam class. "In the past months, five teachers have left the [Gwendoline van Putten] school, and my leaving would only further cripple the institution."
Merkman said he had stepped aside in favour of Sneek, whom he described as "a person capable of doing the job."
Lijfrock said Schmidt's dismissal as commissioner late last year had been "very unfortunate" and had come back to haunt the PLP/UPC/STEP coalition.
Schmidt said he had allowed himself to go to the "slaughterhouse" for a second time, which remark drew laughter from the crowd. He said he had always worked for the interest of Statia and its people, and thanked the DP and Lijfrock for putting this coalition together.
Schmidt said he was "anxious" to return to work and to continue working on the things he had started, even though his portfolio has been changed somewhat.
Prospective DP-commissioner Sneek said it was not the new coalition's intention to send Schmidt to the slaughterhouse once again. "We plan to stay here until 2015," he said.
Sneek announced that Adelka Spanner will be taking up his seat in the Island Council after he has been sworn in as commissioner.
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