Philipsburg: --- Lt. Governor of the Island Territory of St. Maarten Franklyn Richards is scheduled to leave St. Maarten on June 1. While it is understood that the governor would be off island for 12 days to attend a conference in the Netherlands.SMN News understands that Richards would also begin using up his vacation days that are due to him pending his retirement on August 10. Sources say Richards had asked to be paid for his vacation days but the island government has advised him that he would not be paid for those days and that he should take them starting June 1.
Lt. Governor Franklyn Richards will be making his 60th birthday on August 10 making him eligible for pension. However, he was appointed to the office of the Governor of St Maarten on September 22, 2000.
Asked about his departure on several occasions Richards said he would remain in office until 10/10/10. He once said that several reporters have written articles relating to him leaving office all of which are misleading. However, SMN News tried effortlessly on Tuesday to contact Richards on the information we received but he did not answer his phone. He said in the past that he would never leave office without informing the media and the people of St. Maarten whom he said were good to him.
Reliable sources have informed SMN News that the executive council have sent a proposal to the Governor General and to the council of ministers requesting that Richards be sent on vacation as of June 1. It is said the proposal was sent sometime ago but another letter was dispatched Monday evening.
If the proposal of the executive council is ratified then two well known persons in the community will be appointed as acting Lt. Governors until St. Maarten achieves its new status on 10/10/10 and a governor of country St. Maarten would then be appointed.
The source said the executive council is also asking the cabinet to remove the current acting Lt. Governor Millicent De Weever since her brother Leroy De Weever is an island council member. The current executive council have pointed out to the council ministers that De Weever should not have been appointed to office since having her brother as an island council member creates a serious conflict interest.
