~ Coalition partners disagree, PM seeking legal advice on the appointment of SBOD members.~
PHILIPSBURG:—Information reaching SMN News states that the Prime Minister of St. Maarten Silveria Jacobs has threatened to suspend or either fire the managing director of Princess Juliana International Airport Holding Company Dexter Doncher. Allegations are that Doncher did not follow the Corporate Governance guidelines when appointing members of the Supervisory Board of Directors. SMN News learned that PJIAH had three persons screened to take up positions on the SBOD. Those persons are Alfred Harley, Ashton Richardson, and Joseph Oniel.
However, the SBOD of PJIAE has also submitted the names of three persons that are supposedly their friends. The SBOD members also have the support of the Royal Schipol Group that have been putting extreme pressure on the Government of St. Maarten on the appointment of the new members of the SBOD, while the Dutch Government is supporting the Royal Schipol Group and has thus far withheld the liquidity support that was promised to St. Maarten.
On Tuesday evening the National Alliance (NA) and United Peoples Party (UPP) coalition members met with the Council of Ministers regarding the threats made against Doncher. Sources say that the coalition members are against any sanctions taken against Doncher who it is said followed the procedures and have screened persons that were submitted by the Council of Ministers.
On Wednesday during the Council of Minister’s press briefing, Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs said that the Council of Ministers is busy gathering information regarding the articles of incorporation of the government-owned company as well as the Corporate Governance Code. She said her government has been working to improve Corporate Governance at all government-owned companies.
SMN News asked the Prime Minister to explain how the appointment of SBOD members of Government-owned companies takes place and who appointed the current members of the SBOD of PJIAE. Jacobs said the current members of the SBOD were not appointed by her government however Jacobs did not indicate that all members of the SBOD were appointed by the previous Council of Ministers and the nominations were made by the coalition partners of the former government.
Jacobs said that her government will remain vigilant to ensure that no threats are posed towards the viability of PJIAE, the country’s main gateway.
The Prime Minister said in response to the questions posed by SMN News that she will refrain from making any comments as they have been seeking legal advice on matters related to PJAIH/PJIAE.
