the following statement was made on Wednesday, August 27, by the chairman of the St. Maarten island council, Governor Franklyn Richards, at a news conference called to brief the press on the role of the Island Council, in appointing a commissioner as member of the Excecutive Council:

I have invited you here this afternoon to elucidate on the position of the chairman of the island council with regards to the appointment of a new commissioner.

As you already know, Commissioner Maria Buncamper-Molanus tendered her resignation on June 18 last, during a public island council meeting, confirming her resignation, effective that same day, in writing. It was during that meeting of June 18 that the island council accepted a motion of no-confidence against the commissioner. The motion had been presented after the commissioner had announced her resignation.

Great Bay, St. Maarten – St. Maarten’s office of the Governor shares the concerns and calls for a speedy resolving of the issues related to the tendered resignation of member of the St. Maarten Executive Council, Mrs. Maria Buncamper-Molanus. The governor, who is presently away from office, on vacation, confirms that official correspondence by the Minister for Constitutional and Home Affairs, Roland Duncan, reached the office of the governor last Friday, with an immediate response forwarded to the minister, by acting governor Millicent Acuna-Lopez de Weever, as a result thereof.