Buncamper-Molanus will be
reappointed Commissioner
~ Wescot-Williams responsible for TelEm ~
PHILIPSBURG--The Democratic Party (DP) will put forward Maria Buncamper-Molanus for reappointment as Commissioner in a meeting of the Island Council. She will, however, be stripped of the TelEm portfolio.
“What was wrong at TelEm was corrected and her spouse who was on the board of directors has resigned,” DP leader Commissioner Sarah Wescot-Williams said on Wednesday, justifying her party’s decision to reappoint Buncamper-Molanus.
Taking everything into consideration, the effects and implications of any option and the feeling of the DP members, the party decided to maintain Buncamper-Molanus, Wescot-Williams said.
She said it had taken more than two months to take a final decision to reappoint Buncamper-Molanus because the party simply needed time to come to such a decision. “No other explanation for it.”
In addition to reappointing Buncamper-Molanus, Wescot-Williams said, the TelEm portfolio will be placed under her responsibility for the time being.
“What we had was that camps were being formed and I don’t think that it was healthy for the companies. In the meantime, things are relatively quiet. I believe that the interim manager has started to do some of the work he is contracted to do. Nevertheless, we need to make sure that it continues in this tranquil fashion,” Wescot-Williams said.
Buncamper-Molanus had tendered her resignation on June 18 because of conflict of interest. As the Commissioner of Telecommunications she had appointed her husband Claudius Buncamper to TelEm’s supervising board of directors.
In addition, Buncamper had signed a letter from The Sky is The Limit Foundation, which he had founded and the Commissioner chaired, requesting a financial contribution of US $25,000 from TelEm, which the foundation had received.
Wescot-Williams said during yesterday’s Executive Council press briefing that the DP political faction would officially request a meeting of the Island Council in the first week of September to re-appoint Buncamper-Molanus.
The reason for the delay is that several DP Island Council members won’t be on the island in coming days and, Wescot-Williams said, the party does not expect National Alliance (NA) to support Buncamper-Molanus’ reappointment.
