Van Putten rejects blame for heated Island Council incident, questions Governor’s neutrality
ORANJESTAD, St. Eustatius – Island Council member for the Progressive Labor Party (PLP), Clyde van Putten, on Thursday strongly rejected suggestions that he was responsible for the heated exchanges that disrupted the May 7 Island Council meeting, while also questioning the neutrality of Island Governor Alida Francis in her role as Chairlady of the Island Council.
Van Putten’s response follows a multi-page letter titled “Reflection,” dated May 13, 2026, which Francis sent to members of the Island Council and Executive Council regarding the tone and conduct displayed during the May 7 meeting. The meeting included a contentious debate surrounding the shooting of animals on the island.
According to Van Putten, the official record of the meeting would show that from the moment he began addressing the agenda point, he was repeatedly interrupted and attacked by Commissioner Rechelline Leerdam. He argued that Francis, as chair of the meeting, failed to intervene in a timely manner to stop what he described as disrespectful behavior from the commissioner, who had been invited to answer questions from the Council on matters affecting the people of St. Eustatius.
Intervention by Registrar
Van Putten stated that it was only after the situation escalated significantly that the Island Registrar — rather than the Chairlady — requested a pause to speak with the Council members present. He further claimed that during a subsequent closed-door discussion, Francis initially appeared to portray him as the aggressor in the incident.
According to Van Putten, fellow Council member Glenn Schmidt intervened during that discussion and made clear that Commissioner Leerdam had been the one interrupting and attacking him during the debate. Van Putten said that only after Schmidt’s intervention did Francis alter her position on the matter.
The PLP faction leader said the incident raises broader concerns about Francis’ conduct and role within the island’s governance structure. He argued that many people both on Statia and abroad believe the Governor has become too involved in political matters and is not demonstrating sufficient neutrality in the execution of her duties.
“Therefore, she needs to look at herself in the mirror and ask if she has been a fair and neutral arbitrator,” Van Putten stated.
Rejects Responsibility
Van Putten also rejected any implication that he bore responsibility for the May 7 incident, while criticizing the removal of part of the meeting recording from Facebook. According to Van Putten, the first portion of the meeting — which he said would allow the public to hear how the exchanges unfolded — was removed from the platform.
Van Putten said he raised the matter during a May 13 presidium meeting, where, according to him, both Francis and the Registrar acknowledged that the footage had been removed, although explanations were given for why this occurred.
In a pointed remark regarding the broader situation, Van Putten stated that “you cannot ignite fire by fanning it and constantly pouring gasoline behind the scenes and when it flares up and gets out of hand, you cry foul and want to wash your hands like Pontius Pilate.”
Double Standards in Council
Van Putten further argued that different standards are being applied to different members participating in Council debates. While emphasizing that he respects the rules of order governing the Island Council, he said he would not allow himself to be silenced or intimidated while carrying out his duties as an elected representative.
“I was elected by the people of St. Eustatius to represent them, and that I will continue to do without fear or intimidation,” he said.
Responses to Allegations
BES-Reporter contacted both Commissioner Rechelline Leerdam and Island Governor Alida Francis for comment in the interest of fair reporting.
Commissioner Leerdam responded by stating: “I will not respond through short soundbites to claims that are contradicted by the public record. The recording will speak for itself.” She added that she intends to issue a detailed press release laying out the facts surrounding the incident, so that residents on Statia and abroad “can see and hear the truth for themselves.”
Governor Francis, in her response to BES-Reporter, stated that the letters sent to members of the Island Council and Executive Council were intended as “a respectful and institutional reflection” on the tone and conduct displayed during the May 7 meeting and were not directed at any one individual.
According to Francis, the correspondence emphasized the importance of maintaining “dignity, mutual respect and decorum within our democratic process.”
“Democratic debate must at all times remain respectful and it is important to be mindful of the example that public officials set for the community, particularly for the youth of St. Eustatius,” Francis stated.
The Governor further indicated that she would not engage in personal exchanges through the media regarding individual Council members, but would instead remain committed to constructive cooperation with both the Island Council and Executive Council “in the interest of the people of St. Eustatius and the proper functioning of democratic governance.”
