Philipsburg: ---The executive council has approved Naf500, 000 for the 10/10/10 celebration announced commissioner Roy Marlin on Thursday. Marlin told reporters that the executive council decided to make the monies available since the former executive council had abandoned the activities that they were expecting for 10/10/10. Marlin said a project coordinator Denis Richardson and a small committee are busy organizing a number of activities which will begin on Saturday evening at Holland House. The descending of the Antillean flag and rising of St. Maarten flag will take place at the court house while the location for the church service is yet to be named.The commissioner said a number of dignitaries from the neighboring islands have been invited to attend the planned ceremony which will take place under a tent across from the government administration building. The members of the executive council informed the media that while they were told that the parliament building that is presently being prepared for country St. Maarten will not be ready for Sunday.
New EXCO looking to new bus and taxi licenses
In the meantime, Commissioner Michael Ferrier told reporters that the five day executive council is busy reviewing the bus and taxi licenses that the former executive council were processing to issue. Ferrier said the current executive council was informed that there are about 40 bus and taxi licenses which were to be given out. Ferrier said the executive council wants to see if proper procedures were followed before a decision is taken on the issuance of the permits.
Another challenge Ferrier said is that the executive council has to establish an organization to receive St. Maarten's share of the Post NV. He said a decision has been taken to establish the Postal Services St. Maarten NV to accept St. Maarten shares. The commissioner said the executive council also found a letter from the shareholder representative of WINAIR Minister Roland Duncan requesting that St. Maarten accept the shares of WINAIR to the Windward Islands. Ferrier said upon seeing the letter the executive council has responded to Minister Duncan informing him that he can now proceed with the transfer of the shares of St. Maarten, Saba and Statia as the island government is now willing to accept its shares.