PHILIPSBURG:--- In a vote of 7 for and two against, The Parliament of Sint Maarten has approved the long-discussed amendment to the Integrity Chamber ordinance. With this legislative change, there will be an increase in the age limit of the Integrity Chamber members from 70 to 75 years.
The amendment's approval came after a presentation by Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina, who highlighted how the amendment would strengthen the operational framework and would address the current issue in the selection and appointment of the members of the Chamber.
Director of the Integrity Chamber, Charna Pompier, accompanied the Prime Minister in a supportive capacity. The Integrity Chamber worked to facilitate discussions and ensure that all questions from Parliament, both the previous and current, were addressed.
Increasing the age limit of the members of the Integrity Chamber allows for a wider pool of candidates, especially in the local market where the pool of eligible candidates is more limited. The change does not affect the length of time that a candidate can fill the position, as candidates are appointed for a term of three (3) years and can only be reappointed once.
President of the Integrity Chamber, G.R. (Rik) Bergman added, "This amendment better equips the Integrity Chamber when searching for local candidates in the future. We thank the government of Sint Maarten for its cooperation throughout this process and also the Parliament of Sint Maarten whose vote ensured the amendment and aids the Chamber’s dedication to fostering a culture of integrity within public administration."
