Clyde van Putten (left) and Rechelline Leerdam.
ST. EUSTATIUS--Leader of Progressive Labour Party (PLP) Clyde van Putten will relinquish his position as his party’s fraction leader in the Island Council of St. Eustatius as per December 1. From that date Councilwoman Rechelline Leerdam will take over his position as PLP fraction leader, Van Putten wrote in a letter dated November 8, to Chairman of the Island Council Acting Island Governor Julian Woodley.
Van Putten said that this decision to resign as PLP fraction leader is in keeping with a promise he made at the beginning of the term that after the first two years he would relinquish the position in favour of Leerdam, thus giving her the opportunity to gain more experience in this field.
He further stated that it is the “beginning of a process” to prepare the younger generation to assume the “mantle of leadership” in the PLP party as well as the governing process.
Van Putten said that he has “every confidence” that Leerdam is up to the task and will be able to effectively carry out her new duties as fraction leader in the Island Council.
He concluded by saying that relinquishing this position will give him more time to focus on constitutional reform as well as the social and economic development of the island.
Van Putten remains leader of the PLP and keeps presenting himself as “leader” of the PLP/Merkman coalition government.
