PHILIPSBURG:--- During his weekly press briefing, Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina addressed criticisms regarding appointing executives in government-owned companies. He firmly denied claims that local professionals are overlooked for leadership roles, emphasizing transparency, independent recruitment processes, and adherence to corporate governance principles.
As an example, the Prime Minister outlined the recruitment procedure for N.V. GEBE, St. Maarten’s electricity and water utility company. Dr. Mercelina explained that since late 2023, the government has engaged an independent consultancy firm, BDO, to manage hiring C-level executives for GEBE. This decision, he noted, was made to promote transparency and professionalism following the country’s national energy crisis. He acknowledged that the selected candidate for the CEO position was not local but insisted that the process was conducted without government interference.
Dr. Mercelina added that the passing of the GEBE executive, Mr. Troy Washington, during this period further complicated matters. Nonetheless, he stressed that all candidates were independently vetted by BDO and not selected by the government to ensure fairness and impartiality in the recruitment process.
Turning to Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIA), the Prime Minister explained the distinction between the holding company and the government’s role as a shareholder. According to corporate governance structures, the PJIA Holding Company alone determines appointments for operational roles, such as the airport's CEO. Mercelina underlined that the government, as a shareholder, is informed of these decisions but does not influence them directly. He urged critics to understand the separation of responsibilities outlined by corporate governance principles.
The discussion also extended to Telem, the island’s telecommunications company. Prime Minister Mercelina clarified that the outgoing CEO of Telem left the position when his contract concluded. Following this, the Supervisory Board recommended a new candidate for CEO, which the government supported. He emphasized that this was a routine process based on agreements between the parties involved.
Throughout the press briefing, the Prime Minister called for a more constructive national dialogue, urging citizens to avoid circulating what he described as "untruthful narratives." He emphasized his government’s commitment to transparency and fairness while highlighting his love and dedication to St. Maarten and its people.
The remarks were intended to dispel ongoing criticism about the perceived lack of local representation among high-level executives at government-owned entities and to clarify the procedures involved in their appointments. Mercelina concluded by underscoring the significance of following established processes to ensure these companies remain professionally managed for the benefit of all.