Philipsburg: --- Commissioner elect Xavier Blackman took his seat in the executive council as a full fledge commissioner after his credentials were checked and approved so he could have taken the oath of office. The Chairman of the island council Franklyn Richards appointed a committee which consisted of Leader of Government William Marlin, Island council woman Sarah Wescot Williams and commissioner Theo Heyliger who were tasked with checking the credentials of Blackman, among the documents checked were the letters of resignation from the chamber of commerce, resignation letter from KPMG, as well as the letters both from the chairman of the island council and Blackman. The committee also checked the records of the census office to see if Blackman was a registered resident of St. Maarten as well as his birth certificate.
After it was established that Blackman had met the criteria to be appointed a commissioner on the executive council he took the oath of office in the presence of Lt. Governor Franklyn Richards. Blackman was also asked if he accepted the position he was elected to take up he responded in the affirmative.
At the podium Blackman thanked his family namely his grandmother Omyra Sorton who he said is in Saba monitoring the procedures. Blackman then thanked his supporters both on St. Maarten and Saba. He thanked specifically Will Johnson of Saba whom he said is his good friend and mentor. "Mr. Will Johnson guided me in several ways in my career. I spoke to Johnson in the last three days more than I did when I worked with him in nine years. Johnson was making sure he gave me unsolicited advice. Johnson has taught me a lot and he has groomed me in the political arena of the Netherlands Antilles." Blackman said.
The new commissioner also thanked population who allowed him to take a position they did not elect him to, however, he vowed to make the population of St. Maarten and Saba proud now that he took up the position on the executive council. He also thanked his friends and the persons that turned out in numbers to witness him taking the oath of office. Blackman went on to thank the leader of government William Marlin who approached him to take up the offer. He said he was quite shocked when Marlin made the proposal but he decided that he would like to take up the challenge even though he came from the banking world.
Blackman said he felt the timing was right especially with the constitutional developments the island is proceeding with and that he believed he could make a valuable contribution to the process. The new commissioner told Marlin that he would make sure he does not disappoint him with the confidence he has bestowed upon him.
Blackman said that he believed that the executive council of St. Maarten made many preparations on the constitutional process, there were lots of meetings and reports were made and now the focus should be on delivering and performance. He said he has been around the civil core of St. Maarten and he is confident that the performance can take place. Blackman said he would be humble in his capacity to play a further role in the performance.
He also cautioned that if they are to perform then they must establish a very open line of communication not only for the island and executive council but also within the Netherlands Antilles including Aruba and the Netherlands
He said he believed that St. Maarten should make sure the communications is open line and honest dialogue with the other partners.
The chairman of the island council also announced that he received a resignation letter from Island Council member Patrick Illidge, Illidge would remain and island council member until his successor is appointed.
The leader of the National Alliance had announced last Saturday that Illidge would be taking up the post as the new state secretary for heath while George Pantophlet would be returning to the island council and he would also be occupying one of the senate seat vacated by commissioner Marlin and Richardson.