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Emil Lee: hotelier, CHTA president and Health Minister (2015–2019)

A short profile of Emil Lee, who stepped down as president of the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association in November 2015 to become Sint Maarten's Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labour, serving until 2019.

By SXM Daily ·

Emil Lee is a hotelier and former Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labour (VSA) of Sint Maarten, a post he held from 19 November 2015 until 2019.

Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association

Before entering government, Lee was president of the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association (CHTA), the regional body for the hotel sector. He stepped down on 18 November 2015, eight months before the end of his term, to accept the minister's post, the association announced. By then he had served more than ten years on CHTA's board, including two years as first vice-president and 17 months as president.

Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labour

The Democratic Party announced on 18 November 2015 that Lee would be its new VSA minister, and he was sworn in the next day, Thursday 19 November 2015. As minister he worked on labour policy for the post-hurricane reconstruction, including one-time work permits for construction projects, The Daily Herald reported in 2019.

Leaving office

During the budget debate in June 2019, MP Luc Mercelina tabled a motion of no confidence in Lee, The Daily Herald reported, and Parliament passed it by eight votes to seven, StMaartenNews reported. Lee then continued as caretaker minister until a successor took over later in 2019.

Sources

  • https://sxmelections.com/news/16172/dp-announcement---emil-lee-to-be-next-minister-of-vsa
  • https://sxmelections.com/news/16188/emil-lee-accepts-minster-position-in-st-maarten-steps-down-as-chta-president-as-of-nov-18-president-elect-karolin-troubetzkoy-begins-journey-as-leader-for-the-association
  • https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/lee-to-meet-construction-sector-for-feedback-on-reconstruction
  • https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/mercelina-tables-no-confidence-motion-against-min-emil-lee
  • https://stmaartennews.com/interviews/smear-campaign-comes-fear-jealousy-minister-lee-says/

Source: https://sxmelections.com/news/16172/dp-announcement---emil-lee-to-be-next-minister-of-vsa

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