ST. EUSTATIUS – During a general meeting of the Progressive Labor Party on Sunday July 19, 2020, the party council approved the resignation letter of Mr. Clyde I. Van Putten as leader of the PLP. Mr. Van Putten who co-founded the party served as its first and only leader for the past 20 years. Van Putten at the beginning of this year informed the party of his decision to stand down from the leadership, indicating that it was time to hand over the baton to a younger generation of leaders. During the meeting he thanked the executive and general membership of the party for their unwavering loyalty and dedication over the years. He stated that he was leaving the leadership of the party, with the PLP as the largest political party on the island and is confidence that the party will have even a brighter further.
At said meeting the general membership of the party elected Ms. Rechelline Leerdam by acclamation as the new political leader of the Progressive Labor party. Ms. Leerdam made her political debut in 2009 as part of the Progressive Labor Party. In the general elections in March of 2015 Ms. Rechelline Leerdam was elected as a member of the island council of St. Eustatius. During this period she served as fraction leader for the PLP and also as deputy chair of the central committee of the island council. The general meeting of the Progressive Labor Party said on Sunday, with Ms. Leerdam’s election to the top position of the party they were complying with their vision for transitional leadership and incorporation of the younger generation.
