Politics
Sarah Wescot-Williams: Sint Maarten's first Prime Minister, now President of Parliament
Sarah Wescot-Williams became Sint Maarten's first Prime Minister on 10 October 2010 and has led the Democratic Party since 1994. As of 14 October 2026, Parliament's website lists her as President of Parliament.
By SXM Daily ยท
Last checked: 14 October 2026
Next check: 14 January 2027
Sarah Wescot-Williams took office as Sint Maarten's first Prime Minister on 10 October 2010, the day the island became a country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. She has led the Democratic Party since 1994. As of 14 October 2026, the Parliament of Sint Maarten's website lists her as President of Parliament. This profile covers her public roles only.
Photo: superhilly / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (2006)
At a glance
- Current office, as of 14 October 2026: President of Parliament (Parliament of Sint Maarten, Presidium page)
- Party: Democratic Party (DP), leader since 1994
- Prime Minister: 10 October 2010 to 19 December 2014 (second term from 21 May 2012)
- Born: on the French side of the island, according to her government biography
- Current seat in Parliament: term listed as running from 20 September 2024
Current role
As of 14 October 2026, Parliament's Presidium page lists Sarah Wescot-Williams as President of Parliament. The two Vice Presidents are Christopher L. Wever (1st) and Ludmila N.L. de Weever (2nd). Parliament's Annual Report 2025-2026 shows the same three people in the Presidium and gives 20 September 2024 as the start of her current term as a Member of Parliament.
The 2026-2027 parliamentary year opened in September 2026. Presidium posts can change during a term, so we will check this section again at the next review.
Early life
According to her government biography, Wescot-Williams was born in St. Martin (F.W.I.), on the French side of the island. She went to primary school in Aruba and to secondary school in St. Maarten. She has made her political career on the Dutch side.
Career in public office
Her official biography, published on the Government of Sint Maarten website and archived in 2014, sets out the steps before 2010.
- Civil service. She was Head of the Department of Finance and Acting Island Secretary.
- Island Territory. She served as a Commissioner and as a member of the Island Council of the Island Territory of St. Maarten.
- Netherlands Antilles. She was a Member of Parliament of the Netherlands Antilles.
On 10 October 2010, she was sworn in as Prime Minister and Minister of General Affairs. SMN News reported on the day that the first Council of Ministers, with her as Prime Minister holding General Affairs, took the oath during the ceremonies that set up the new country's institutions.
She began a second term as Prime Minister and Minister of General Affairs on 21 May 2012, according to the same government biography.
Her time as Prime Minister ended on 19 December 2014, when Governor Eugene Holiday swore in the new cabinet of Marcel Gumbs. The Daily Herald, reporting the swearing-in, called the outgoing cabinet "Wescot-Williams III", her third.
The biography also lists a Master's in Public Administration from La Salle University.
Party
She became leader of the Democratic Party in 1994, the government biography says. Parliament's current list of members shows her as a Democratic Party member.
What the role means for residents
The President of Parliament chairs Parliament's public meetings. Together with the two Vice Presidents, the President forms the Presidium, which oversees the work of Parliament's secretariat. For residents, that means the President is the person to watch for Parliament's meeting agendas and for the theme Parliament sets for each parliamentary year.
FAQ
Q: Who was Sint Maarten's first Prime Minister?
A: Sarah Wescot-Williams. She was sworn in on 10 October 2010, the day Sint Maarten became a country within the Kingdom.
Q: What is her current role?
A: As of 14 October 2026, Parliament's website lists her as President of Parliament.
Q: Which party does she lead?
A: The Democratic Party (DP), which she has led since 1994.
Q: Was she Prime Minister more than once?
A: Yes. Her first term began on 10 October 2010 and her second on 21 May 2012. She led three cabinets in all and left office on 19 December 2014, when Marcel Gumbs's cabinet was sworn in.
Q: Where was she born?
A: In St. Martin (F.W.I.), on the French side of the island, according to her government biography.
Q: Who else sits on Parliament's Presidium?
A: 1st Vice President Christopher L. Wever and 2nd Vice President Ludmila N.L. de Weever.
Q: Why is the photo from 2006?
A: It is the freely licensed photo of her available on Wikimedia Commons. It was taken in The Hague in November 2006.
Sources
- https://sxmparliament.org/presidium/
- https://sxmparliament.org/members/
- https://sxmparliament.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/AnnualReport-2025-2026-web.pdf
- https://web.archive.org/web/20140228012152/http://www.sintmaartengov.org/Government/Pages/PrimeMinister.aspx
- https://smn-news.com/index.php/st-maarten-st-martin-news/3813-institutions-of-country-st-maarten-established.html
- https://sxmelections.com/news/5241/new-marcel-gumbs-cabinet-takes-office