CoC calls members to vote for new board

The Daily Herald writes that the board of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of St. Eustatius and Saba is calling on Chamber members to turn out and vote in the election of one new Saba and one new Statia board member. Eligible voters should have received their voting cards or should receive them today, Friday, the latest, the Chamber of Commerce said. Those who have not received their voting cards may pick these up at the Chamber of Commerce or receive them when they come in to vote. Voters will be requested to present some form of identification to the Election Committee.

Current Chamber of Commerce board member for Saba and Commerce Chamber President Alida Heilbron explained that on both Saba and Statia one board member is stepping down according to a rotating schedule. Heilbron will be the resigning Saba member and Roy Hooker will be stepping down as Statia representative. Neither can be re-elected. “Roy Hooker and I will be stepping down as agreed immediately after the 2013 election,” Heilbron explained. “We both decided to give others a chance in the Chamber and decided not to run for re-election.”

Current President of the Saba Business Association Wolfgang Tooten was the only candidate to fill this island’s vacancy. His candidacy has to be officially approved by the Election Committee. There are three candidates contesting the election on Statia: Koert Kerkhoff, Koos Sneek and Arlene Spanner-Schmidt.

“Please make a conscious choice based on the potential of the candidate to represent the Chamber of Commerce in an honest, professional and prestigious manner. This person will represent the Chamber locally, regionally and in the Netherlands. Remember: the Chamber is here to represent the general interest of the business community. Make a conscious choice and let your vote be counted,” Heilbron said in wishing all candidates the best of luck in the election.