Luc Mercelina Explained

Honorific-Prefix:His Excellency
Luc Mercelina
Office:8th Prime Minister of Sint Maarten
Governor:Ajamu Baly
Deputy:Veronica Jansen-Webster[1]
Term Start:3 May 2024[2]
Predecessor:Silveria Jacobs
Office1:Leader of the Unified Resilient St. Maarten Movement
Term Start1:10 October 2021
Predecessor1:Position established
Birth Date:6 December 1964
Birth Place:Curaçao, Netherlands Antilles
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 .[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

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

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]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure . 2024-05-04 . www.sintmaartengov.org.
  2. Web site: New Council of Ministers appointed and sworn-in . 2024-05-04 . www.sintmaartengov.org.
  3. Web site: New Council of Ministers appointed and sworn-in . 2024-05-04 . www.sintmaartengov.org.
  4. News: Afscheid dokter Mercelina. Amigoe. 1992-04-24. 2024-02-08.
  5. Web site: Surgeon Dr. Mercelina Resumes Position at SMMC. SMMC.
  6. News: United Democrats secured most seats in parliament.. SMN News. 27 February 2018.
  7. News: UD and SMCP signed formation agreement on close to midnight on Thursday.. SMN News. 6 April 2018.
  8. News: Update: NA, US party, Mercelina, Brownbill form new nine-member coalition . The Daily Herald . 23 September 2019.
  9. Web site: Sizeable crowd turns out for URSM first congress, Dr. Luc Mercelina elected as leader. . 8 May 2023 . 22 January 2024 . Sint Maarten News.
  10. Web site: Dr. Mercelina launches URSM party, wants to initiate change . 11 October 2021 . 22 January 2024 . The Daily Herald.
  11. Web site: NA maintains position as biggest party in elections . 12 January 2024 . 22 January 2024 . The Daily Herald.
  12. Web site: Sint Maarten: Four political parties sign historic coalition agreement . 14 January 2024 . 22 January 2024 . Loop News.