Franklin Meyers | |
---|---|
Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunications | |
In office 10 October 2010 –21 May 2012 | |
Prime Minister | Sarah Wescot-Williams |
Preceded by | Office created |
Succeeded by | Romeo Pantophlet |
Member of the Parliament of Sint Maarten | |
In office 2014–2019 | |
Assumed office 2024 | |
Member of the Sint Maarten Island Council | |
In office 1999–2007 | |
Personal details | |
Born | Sint Eustatius,Netherlands Antilles | 28 November 1967
Political party | Soualiga Action Movement (since 2024) |
Other political affiliations | United Democrats (2017–2019) United People's Party (2010–2017) Democratic Party (1995–2008) Partnership for Political Reform (1995) |
Spouse | Brenda Wathey |
Alma mater | Miami Dade Community College |
Franklin Antonio Meyers (born 28 November 1967) [1] is a Sint Maarten businessman,undertaker,and politician who serves as a Member of Parliament since 2024. He previously served as an MP from 2014 to 2019 and was Minister of Tourism,Economic Affairs,Transport and Telecommunications in the First Wescot-Williams cabinet from 2010 to 2012. [2] [3]
Franklin Meyers was born on 28 November 1967 on Sint Eustatius to Etienne H. Meyers and Eulalie Meyers (née Hazel). [4] [5] His maternal grandfather,Melford Hazel,was one of Sint Maarten's well-known politicians,who served as an Island Council member for many years. At the age of 4 he moved to Sint Maarten with his Family,where he attended the Oranje School and then the Old Pond Side School. In 1983 he attended Newtown High School in New York and obtained his high school diploma in 1987. [6] Two years later after having several jobs on Sint Maarten Meyers traveled on to Miami Dade Community College and got a degree in Mortuary Science in 1991. [7] Soon thereafter he returned to Sint Maarten and was hired at the newly established Emerald Funeral Home. [6]
In 1994 he postulated himself for the Netherlands Antilles parliamentary election on Joseph Richardson's Partnership for Political Reform Party but did not obtain enough votes to be elected. [8] The following year,he joined the Democratic Party (DP) for the island council election but once again was unable to secure the sufficient votes needed to be elected. In the 1999 island council election Meyers received 534 votes and was elected. He resigned from his position at Emerald Funeral Home to serve in public office,he became a member of the Executive Council and the Island Council and served as a Commissioner for 2 consecutive terms from 1999 until 2007. [9]
On 30 June 2008 Meyers resigned as a member from the Democratic Party citing the frequent controversies and statements made by then DP member Maria Buncamper-Molanus. [10]
In 2010,Meyers along with Theodore Heyliger and a few others established the United People's Party (UP). [11] While Meyers decided not to seek election for public office at that time,he stayed on as President of the party. After forming the very first government of country Sint Maarten,with the DP,the UP Party was sworn into office and Meyers took on the position of Minister of Tourism,Economic Affairs,Telecommunications,and Transportation. [12] In April 2012,United People's parliamentary faction leader Romain Laville left his party and became an independent member of parliament causing the first Wescot-Williams government to fall. [13] Meyers was succeeded by Romeo Pantophlet of the National Alliance (NA) on 21 May 2012. [14]
In 2007,after deciding to retire from politics he started his own business;the Royal Funeral Home and Crematorium. During this time,Meyers successfully obtained his private pilot license. [6] In 2013 Meyers married his long time partner businesswoman Brenda Wathey in Bali,Indonesia. [15]
The Windward Islands People's Movement (WIPM) is a political party in Saba. It has won a majority of seats in the Island Council in all but two elections since 1971.
Early general elections were held in Sint Maarten on 17 September 2010 to elect the 15 members of the Island Council. The National Alliance led by William Marlin emerged as the largest party,winning 7 of the 15 seats. However,a coalition government was formed by the Democratic Party and the United People's Party. Despite only having won two seats,the Democratic Party's Sarah Wescot-Williams became Prime Minister.
The prime minister of Sint Maarten became the head of government of Sint Maarten after the Netherlands Antilles had been dissolved on 10 October 2010. The prime minister,together with the Council of Ministers and the governor of Sint Maarten,form the executive branch of the government of Sint Maarten. Sint Maarten's current prime minister is Luc Mercelina.
Sint Maarten,a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands,has a government formed by the monarch,represented by the governor,and the ministers. The Prime Minister of Sint Maarten presides over the council of ministers. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and parliament. The minister plenipotentiary is not part of the government and represents the Sint Maarten government in the Netherlands. The judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature. The country is a parliamentary representative democratic country with a multi-party system. Sint Maarten has full autonomy on most matters,with the exceptions summed up in the Charter for the Kingdom of the Netherlands under the title "Kingdom affairs". The Constitution of Sint Maarten was ratified in September 2010,and entered into force on 10 October 2010.
Sarah A. Wescot-Williams is the leader of the Democratic Party of Sint Maarten and the first Prime Minister of Sint Maarten. Wescot-Williams is the current President of Parliament,a role she has occupied on five separate occasions. Even though her party only managed to secure two seats in the Sint Maarten general election of 2010,she was selected as Prime Minister in the coalition agreement between United People and the Democratic Party.
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The First Wescot-Williams cabinet was the first Cabinet of Sint Maarten installed following the achievement of constituent country status of Sint Maarten within the Kingdom of the Netherlands on 10 October 2010. Government formation followed the September 2010 Sint Maarten general election,which saw the National Alliance emerge as the largest party. Nevertheless,the coalition was formed by the Democratic Party and the United Peoples party. Despite only winning two seats,the office of Prime Minister was delivered by DP's head Sarah Wescot-Williams.
The second Wescot-Williams cabinet was the second Cabinet of Sint Maarten installed following the achievement of constituent country status of Sint Maarten within the Kingdom of the Netherlands on 10 October 2010. The cabinet was a coalition between the National Alliance and the Democratic Party,the latter party delivering the Prime Minister despite being the junior partner in the coalition.
The third Wescot-Williams cabinet was the third Cabinet of Sint Maarten installed following the achievement of constituent country status of Sint Maarten within the Kingdom of the Netherlands on 10 October 2010. The cabinet was a coalition between the United People's Party,the Democratic Party,and independent member of parliament Romain Laville.
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The president of the Parliament of Sint Maarten is the presiding officer of the Parliament of Sint Maarten. According to Article 8 of the Rules of Order of Parliament the president presides over the sittings of the House and enforces the rules prescribed in the Rules of Order of Parliament for the orderly conduct of parliamentary business. The president is supported by a team of vice presidents,divided into a first vice president and second vice president,who are also members of the House. In the event that the president is unable to lead a meeting the meeting is chaired by the first vice president.
The First Marlin cabinet was the fifth Cabinet of Sint Maarten installed following the achievement of constituent country status of Sint Maarten within the Kingdom of the Netherlands on 10 October 2010. The cabinet was a coalition between the National Alliance,Democratic Party,United St. Maarten Party and independent members of Parliament Maurice Lake and Silvio Matser.
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