According to information reaching SMN News, Minister Rhoda Arrindell who is on the island could not report to work for two days since she was out with the flu. However, Minister Arrindell was on the job on Wednesday and Thursday.
In the meantime, Prime Minister Sarah Wescot Williams is in South Pacific island of New Caledonia attending the OCTA meetings, while Minister Roland Duncan is in Aruba on a working visit. Also off island is Minister Franklin Meyers and Minister Hiro Shigemoto while there is no labour Minister appointed since resignation of labour and health Minister Maria Buncamper Molanus.
In an invited comment, Deputy Prime Minister Theo Heyliger confirmed that there are only two Ministers currently on island. Asked if there is an emergency and decisions have to be made what would happen. Heyliger said the only Minister he would need for authorization would be the Minister of Finance whom he said can sign off on requests via fax.
It should be noted that while the Deputy Prime Minister said the only Minister that would be needed is the Minister of Finance for financial decisions. St. Maarten no longer has an executive council that takes collective responsibility. In the new structure, each Minister is solely responsible for their Ministry.
