An island council meeting was called on Thursday to check and validate the credentials of all fifteen members of the council who was elected on September 17. The procedure which was expected to last just about an hour took about five hours because of minor mistakes and or glitches on the part of the governor's cabinet and the census office.
Three members of the council namely William Marlin (Chairman), Sarah Wescot Williams and Louie Laveist formed a committee to check the credentials while Theo Heyliger an independent member of the council was not present when the committee was installed.
Upon checking the credentials Marlin said the declaration from the governor's cabinet stated that Island council lady Sarah Wescot Williams was born on St. Maarten rather than St. Martin and that had to be corrected. In the case of commissioner Hyacinth Richardson they omitted to state that he is currently a commissioner and island council member, the same error was also made for Frans George Richardson. Marlin said in the declaration for island council member Louie Laveist, they omitted to state that he is an island councilmember and civil servant who is on leave of absence to serve in the council, while in the case of Patrick Illidge mention was not made that he is a non active civil servant of the government owned company UTS.
In the case of Silvia Meyers Ollivachi the census office declaration omitted the candidate's marriage name. Marlin said the necessary corrections were made which is in accordance to the law. After reviewing the documents, the necessary corrections were made allowing the committee to declare that the credentials were in order and the council admitted all 15 members to the council.
The members elect representing the National Alliance are, Hyacinth Richardson, Louie Laveist, William Marlin, Patrick Illidge, George Pantophlet, Frans Richardson and Dr. Lloyd Richardson. While those from the United Peoples Party slate are Theodore Heyliger, Silvia Meyers, Rhoda Arrindell, Jules James, Romain Lavelle, and Gracita Arrindell. Representing the Democratic Party in the new council is Sarah Wescot Williams and Petrus Leroy De Weever.
