Luc Mercelina
Luc Mercelina | |
|---|---|
| 8th Prime Minister of Sint Maarten | |
| Assumed office 3 May 2024[1] | |
| Monarch | Willem-Alexander |
| Governor | Ajamu Baly |
| Deputy | Veronica Jansen-Webster[2] |
| Preceded by | Silveria Jacobs |
| Leader of the Unified Resilient St. Maarten Movement | |
| Assumed office 10 October 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 6 December 1964 Curaçao, Netherlands Antilles |
| Political party |
|
| Alma mater | Maastricht University |
Luc F. E. Mercelina (born 6 December 1964) is a surgeon and politician from Sint Maarten and the current Prime Minister as of 3 May 2024[update].[3] He is the founder and leader of the Unified Resilient St. Maarten Movement (URSM). He was also a member of the United Democrats (UD) and the United People's Party (UP).
Early life and career
[edit]Luc Mercelina was born in Curaçao as the second child of Milo Mercelina, of Bonairean descent, and Juliette S.F. Fleming of Marigot, Saint Martin. He graduated as a doctor in 1990 from the Medical University of Maastricht. His professional career started in Curaçao, where he was a general practitioner in Santa Rosa from 1990 to 1992.[4] He further specialized in surgery at the UZ Leuven in Belgium, which he completed in 1998. After working as a surgeon in the Netherlands for a year, he moved to Sint Maarten in 1999, where he worked for 10 years at the Sint Maarten Medical Center (SMMC).[5]
Political career
[edit]In the 2018 elections, the United Democrats became the largest party in the Estates of Sint Maarten with 7 seats, with Mercelina holding one of them.[6][7] On 9 September 2019, Mercelina left the UD, leading to the collapse of the second Marlin-Romeo cabinet.[8] He then became a member of the United People's Party for two years, before leaving and founding the Unified Resilient Sint Maarten Movement on 10 October 2021.[9][10] The URSM contested the January 2024 general election winning 2 seats,[11] and later entered a coalition agreement with the Democratic Party, Party for Progress, and Nation Opportunity Wealth that designated Mercelina as the new Prime Minister.[12]
References
[edit]- ^ "New Council of Ministers appointed and sworn-in". www.sintmaartengov.org. Retrieved 2024-05-04.
- ^ "Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure". www.sintmaartengov.org. Retrieved 2024-05-04.
- ^ "New Council of Ministers appointed and sworn-in". www.sintmaartengov.org. Retrieved 2024-05-04.
- ^ "Afscheid dokter Mercelina". Amigoe. 1992-04-24. Retrieved 2024-02-08.
- ^ "Surgeon Dr. Mercelina Resumes Position at SMMC". SMMC.
- ^ "United Democrats secured most seats in parliament". SMN News. 27 February 2018.
- ^ "UD and SMCP signed formation agreement on close to midnight on Thursday". SMN News. 6 April 2018.
- ^ "Update: NA, US party, Mercelina, Brownbill form new nine-member coalition". The Daily Herald. 23 September 2019.
- ^ "Sizeable crowd turns out for URSM first congress, Dr. Luc Mercelina elected as leader". Sint Maarten News. 8 May 2023. Retrieved 22 January 2024.
- ^ "Dr. Mercelina launches URSM party, wants to initiate change". The Daily Herald. 11 October 2021. Retrieved 22 January 2024.
- ^ "NA maintains position as biggest party in elections". The Daily Herald. 12 January 2024. Retrieved 22 January 2024.
- ^ "Sint Maarten: Four political parties sign historic coalition agreement". Loop News. 14 January 2024. Retrieved 22 January 2024.
