Voges retires after 17 years
as Acting Lt. Governor
PHILIPSBURG--After having served the island as Acting Lt. Governor for 17 years, Mathias Voges will be retiring from the post on Friday. Voges said it’s time for someone else to get a chance to serve the island in this position. No successor for the post has yet been appointed.
Voges was sworn in as second Acting Lt. Governor on November 12, 1990 by Lt. Governor Ralph Richardson. At the time, the first Acting Lt. Governor was the late Charles Vlaun.
In 1994, Voges took up his current post. By then, Richardson was succeeded by Russell Voges as Lt. Governor. Joe Peterson was the head of the Lt Governor’s Cabinet and the late Vacqueline Connor was Island Secretary.
Voges worked together with different island secretaries, namely Louis Duzanson, Rafael Boasman, Gracita Arrindell, Amador Muller and current Island Secretary Joane Meit-Dovale.
In 1995, Russell Voges was succeeded by Dennis Richardson. Under his administration, the island was struck by hurricane Luis. During this time, Voges was involved in the cleaning up of the shantytowns and became the “Mayor” of Tent City in Emilio Wilson Estate. It was a village of container homes with bathroom, kitchen and even a school where the residents were taught English. A medical doctor was also available.
Voges recalled that the food had to be warmed up at the prison and distributed to the inhabitants of the little village. “It was a hectic time for St. Maarten, but we learnt to appreciate each other and there was togetherness. Neighbours started to greet each other again because everyone needed each other.”
In 2000, Dennis Richardson was succeeded by Franklyn Richards with whom Voges also had a good working relationship. Voges said he always tried to follow the policy of the Lt. Governors as much as possible.
Many times Voges performed his duty during emergency situations, for instance when the cruise ship stranded on the sandbank in Great Bay, during the fire at the old Food Center on Bush Road as well as during strikes. He also served during the “Save the Beach” protest against the boardwalk.
As he prepares to depart from his post, Voges thanks the different Lt. Governors and Executive Councils he has worked with during his tenure for their cooperation. Voges has experienced the island placed under higher supervision and the first coalition government of the island; he was in office when the Democratic Party, the PDP, St. Maarten Patriotic Alliance (SPA), SAPP/Elton Jones were in the Executive Council. He also recalled the presence of the National Progressive Party (NPP) and Peoples Progressive Alliance (PPA) in the Island Council.
He also thanks the various Police Commissioners, the Voluntary Corps of St. Maarten and the Public Prosecutor’s Office for their cooperation over the years.
Voges also tips his hat to Executive Secretary of the Lt Governor Evelyn Hodge, Sheryl Dormoy, Louis Benders and Director of the Cabinet of the Lt Governor Lygia Stella as well as the rest of the cabinet for their assistance and good working relationship over the years.
