SINT MAARTEN (PHILIPSBURG) – The elections of St. Maarten Chamber of Commerce & Industry (COCI) board members take place each year under the auspices of an independent election committee, the COCI said on Wednesday in a press statement.
In 2021, the board of St. Maarten Chamber of Commerce and Industry will consist of Mr. Benjamin Ortega, Mr. Louis Bute, Mr. Bertaux Fleming, Ms. Jennifer Carty, Ms. Ife Badejo, Ms. Anuska Friday, Mr. Vinod Kotai, Ms. Charlise Philip and Ms Mirurgia Illis Brown.
“The purpose of the election is to elect two members for a period of three years representing small businesses and one member representing large businesses for the same three-year period.
“Mr. Louis Bute, Mr. Bertaux Fleming and Ms. Anuska Friday were on schedule to resign, creating one (1) vacancy for large business and two (2) vacancies for small business. However, all three individuals were reinstated to continue their representation on the board of the COCI for another three-year period due to a lack of postulating candidates for the available positions.
“After the screening process of the candidates that took place in November 2020 by the election committee, four nomination forms were received of which three were for small busines and one for large business.
“Unfortunately, however one of the candidates for small business sector sent in a request to withdraw their postulation form and stated that they no longer wish to take part in the Chamber’s election process. Given this development there was no election for the small business representative since the other two candidates will automatically filled the slots. Likewise, there was no need for election for the Large Business sector since there was only one candidate.
“Given the forgone development, Mr. Louis Bute remained as the only candidate to fill the vacancy as a representative for large businesses and was consequently elected because there were no other candidates.
“Likewise, as candidates for the two vacancies to represent small companies were nominated, Mr. Bertaux Fleming and Ms. Anuska Friday also remained as the only candidates to fill the vacancy as a representative for small businesses and was consequently elected because there were no other candidates.”
