PHILIPSBURG:--- Reliable information reaching SMN News states that Finance Minister Martin Hassink will be the scapegoat that will be used by the UP/De Weever/LRMarlin coalition. Sources close to the formation of the government labeled the Marcel Gumbs cabinet said that the incoming Prime Minister intends to ask Finance Minister Martin Hassink to stay on board until they find a suitable candidate to take up the post.
The source said that Hassink will agree to stay for a period of three months since he cannot abandon the ship now, Hassink even told members of the media when he was asked two weeks ago if he will stay on for the full term and he made it clear that he will for three months and after that serve as an advisor to government if they so desire. It should be noted that the current coalition betrayed the Finance Minister because they asked him to remain with them for this governing period and while he agreed to serve St. Maarten mostly to finalize the 2015 draft budget and solve other issues plaguing government, the formateur submitted Richard Gibson's to be the new Minister of Finance without even informing Hassink of his decision.
SMN News further learnt that when the CFT met with the Council of Ministers last week they asked why is it that the incoming government chose to change the Minister of Finance at such a crucial moment but no one that met with the CFT could have provided a straight answer. It is left to be seen if Hassink with change his mind or if he will stay with the Gumbs cabinet after being humiliated longer than he said he would have stayed.
