On July 25, 2013, His Excellency the Governor of Sint Maarten, drs. E.B. Holiday, officiated the appointment and administered the oath of office to the Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication and the deputy Minister Plenipotentiary of the current cabinet.
Both Ministers have met the regulatory requirements and they have been appointed as follows:
· Mr. Thadeus E.C. Richardson, Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication
· Mrs. Josianne S. Fleming-Artsen, deputy Minister Plenipotentiary
During the official ceremony which took place at the Cabinet of the Governor, the Governor addressed the Minister and deputy Minister Plenipotentiary and stated:
"On June 14, the new team of ministers were installed with responsibility for the governing of the island. Both of you are about to join that team. Your appointments decree have been signed off by the Prime Minister and myself and there rests one legal requirement before you can perform your duties as Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication and Deputy Minister Plenipotentiary. That is the obligation to take the oath.
Accepting the function of minister through the taking of the oath today, is a solemn expression of your commitment to perform your function with integrity. It is your pledge of allegiance to the King and the Kingdom Charter and it is your individual declaration to always uphold the Constitution of Sint Maarten and to always dedicate yourself to foster the wellbeing of the People of Sint Maarten.
In that regard, there rests on you individually as ministers and jointly with your colleagues in the Council of Ministers a great responsibility. Through your oath, you have accepted the obligation to serve all the people of Sint Maarten.
Your decisions will have lasting influences on the lives of the people of Sint Maarten. Thus, as you deliberate on taking action on the matters before you during your governing period, I wish you wisdom, individually and jointly, in the conduct of your responsibilities as you seek to meet your constitutional responsibility to the people of Sint Maarten.
With that in mind, I hereby congratulate each of you with your appointment as Minister and deputy Minister Plenipotentiary.
Thank you, God Bless you and God Bless Sint Maarten."